2 ms·
Symmetric airfoils (which do exist) are considered to have a centerline in the obvious (symmetric) place, but this doesn't have anything to do with angle of att
by dhxjncdggxghbh 7y ago
Symmetric airfoils (which do exist) are considered to have a centerline in the obvious (symmetric) place, but this doesn't have anything to do with angle of attack. For various reasons, aerobatic planes sometimes have symmetric airfoils with an angle of incidence of zero—that is, the aircraft centerline and airfoil centerline are parallel.
https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/7560/what-are-the-properties-of-the-wing-airfoil-symmetry-angle-of-incidence-of-an https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/7560/what-are-t...
Angle of attack is a separate issue.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- Retric 7y agoI am saying the choice of centerline for an airfoil is arbitrary in terms of aerodynamic forces. The angle of incidence is then based on that arbitrary centerline. The aircraft’s angle of attack is independent of the above and therefore confusing. To be clear I am not saying how the wing is mounted arbitrary, just what angle is written down in the documentation. Chose a different centerline and that angle changes even as the aircraft stays the same.