Aerofoil Design
Key Terms and Concepts
Rotors (and helicopter blades) on an aircraft have specific parts that help it to achieve a movement. Depending on how rotors and blades are designed, it will affect its ability to overcome forces on the aircraft.
Load Factor: In aeronautics, the load factor is the ratio of the lift of an aircraft to its weight
Turbulence: rapid change in vertical airflow around an aircraft
Gust: increase or decrease in wind speed
Longer the rotor of a helicopter: the slower it is
Fine pitch (shorter) rotors: gives RPAS better response time and maneuverability, moves smaller distance when rotors spin
Coarse pitch: drone moves greater distance when the rotors move
Image Source: https://www.britannica.com/technology/cyclic-pitch-control
Image Source: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-10-3382-7_1
Aerofoil Design and Planes
Wings on an aircraft have specific parts that help it to achieve a movement. Depending on how wings are designed, it will affect its ability to overcome forces on the aircraft.
Long slender wings: more stable, minimal drag, high lift, poor maneuverability
Short stubby wings: less stable, more drag, exceptional maneuverability (also true of multicopters and helicopters)
Dihedral angle: allows the aircraft designer to provide the airplane with roll stability
Flaps: used to decrease wing lift
Horizontal stabilizer: provides longitudinal stability for a fixed-wing aircraft
Ailerons: used to control the aircraft in roll
Image Source: https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C5CHFA_enCA1020CA1020&q=nasa+parts+of+an+airplane&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiFj4Wx5sb_AhULjokEHZebB24Q0pQJegQIDBAB&biw=861&bih=521&dpr=1#imgrc=9XZS4rGsOZQurM
Sweepback: provides directional stability for a fixed wing aircraft
Spoilers: slow the aircraft by creating/increasing drag
Winglets: reduce drag and increase lift at the end of the wings