Aerofoil Terminology Flashcards
What is the Leading Edge?
The most forward point on the aerofoil.
What is the Trailing Edge?
The most rearward point on an aerofoil.
What is the Upper Surface on an Aerofoil?
The top side of the aerofoil.
What is the Lower Surface on an Aerofoil?
The bottom side of the aerofoil.
What is Relative Airflow (RAF) ?
The air where pressure, temperature and relative velocity are unaffected by the passage of the aircraft.
What is Lift?
The component of the Total Reaction that is perpendicular (90°) to the flight path or RAF.
What is Drag?
The component of the Total Reaction that is in the same direction and parallel to the RAF.
What is Total Reaction?
The resultant of all aerodynamic forces acting on the wing or aerofoil section.
What is the Chord Line?
The shortest distance between the leading and trailing edge of an aerofoil.
What is the Mean Camber Line?
A line joining the leading and trailing edges of an aerofoil.
Maximum Camber?
The point where there is the maximum distance between the mean camber line and the chord line.
How is Maximum Camber expressed?
A ratio of the maximum distance between the mean camber line and the chord line.
How is the maximum thickness expressed?
A ratio of thickness to the chord length.
What is the Centre of Pressure?
The point, usually in the Chord Line through which, the Total Reaction may be considered to act.
What is the Centre of Gravity?
The point within the aircraft where the weight acts.
