Airplanes: How much lift you can make - Deepstash

Airplanes: How much lift you can make

Air that flows at a certain angle (generally 15 deg) over the top and bottom of a wing follows the curve of the wing surfaces very closely. But as the angle increases (the angle of attack), the smooth airflow behind the wing becomes more turbulent and reduces the lift.

  • Planes can fly without airfoil-shaped wings. What is crucial for a plane is the angle of attack.
  • The bigger the wings, the more lift they create.
  • But small wings can also generate a great deal of lift if they move fast enough. Extra lift at takeoff is produced with flaps on the wings to push more air down.
  • Lift and drag vary with the square of your speed: If the place goes twice as fast relative to the oncoming air, its wings produce four times as much lift and drag.

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