Aerodynamics

An airfoil is the two-dimensional cross-section of the wing of an airplane as one looks at it from the side. It is designed to maximize lift and minimize drag. The upper surface of a typical airfoil has a curvature greater than that of the lower surface. This extra curvature is known as camber. The straight line, joining the front tip or the leading edge of the airfoil to the rear tip or the trailing edge, is known as the chord line. The angle of attack is the angle that the chord line forms with the direction of the air stream.

The angle of attack that generates the most lift depends on many factors including the shape of the airfoil, the velocity of the airflow, and the atmospheric conditions. Illustration by K. Lee Lerner with Argosy. The Gale Group.