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Module 8. Basic aerodynamics

In straight and level flight, the angle of attack of a swept wing is

  • less than the aircraft angle to the horizontal.
  • more than the aircraft angle to the horizontal.
  • the same as the aircraft angle to the horizontal.

Explanation

On a swept wing the relevant flow is the component normal to the leading edge, so the section meets the air at an effective angle smaller than the geometric angle the aircraft presents to the horizontal. The effective angle of attack of the swept section is therefore less than the aircraft's pitch angle, which is why swept wings need higher angles to develop the same lift.

faris92 asking:

can someone explain ?

Community Comments (2)

C
chevychase Posts: 5 19.02.2016 / 01:07
In a straight and level flight we must assume that the aircraft fuselage is trimmed so the relative airflow is parallel to the longitudinal axis for max efficiency. The wings of aircraft are usually not parallel to the a/c axis therefore they have an angle of incidence.

So therefore: An airplane flying straight and level into relative airflow parallel to the aircraft axis will have an angle of attack more than aircraft angle to the horizontal which in this case is zero... no???
A
alessandrofalconi Posts: 1 06.12.2023 / 17:42
if we consider the aircraft to orizontal line angle to be zero , the only way to have a lower angle is to have a negative one. no?

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