Aerofoil

Aerofoil (or airfoil) is the cross-sectional shape of a wing, blade, or sail designed to produce aerodynamic force (lift) when moved through air. The curved upper surface and flatter lower surface create a pressure differential — lower pressure above, higher below — generating lift.

Key aerofoil parameters include chord length, camber (curvature), thickness ratio, and angle of attack. Different aerofoil profiles are optimized for various flight regimes: thick profiles for low-speed GA aircraft, thin supercritical profiles for high-speed transonic airliners.