Laminar vs Turbulent Boundary Layers: Why Airflow Separates from Aircraft Wings

Laminar vs Turbulent Boundary Layers: Why Airflow Separates from Aircraft Wings Airflow around an aircraft wing is often shown as smooth streamlines passing neatly over the aerofoil. In reality, the thin layer of air immediately next to the wing surface behaves very differently from the undisturbed airflow further away. This region is called the boundary […]

Why There Is No Perfect Aerofoil: The Design Trade-Offs Behind Every Aircraft Wing

Why There Is No Perfect Aerofoil: The Design Trade-Offs Behind Every Aircraft Wing If a designer could create a perfect aerofoil, it would produce very high lift with almost no drag, remain stable at every angle of attack, fit a lightweight structure inside the wing and work equally well at low and high speed. No […]

How Aerofoils Generate Lift: A Beginner’s Guide to Angle of Attack, Camber and Pressure Distribution

How Aerofoils Generate Lift: A Beginner’s Guide to Angle of Attack, Camber and Pressure Distribution An aerofoil does not create lift simply because its upper surface is curved. Lift is produced because the aerofoil meets the airflow at a suitable angle and shape, causing a pressure distribution that results in an aerodynamic force. For aircraft […]