The angle of incidence of the wing in flight mechanics refers to the angle formed between the chord line of the wing and the aircraft’s longitudinal axis. It represents the initial orientation of the wing relative to the fuselage or the body of the aircraft. The angle of incidence is a key parameter in aircraft design, affecting the aerodynamic characteristics, lift generation, and overall stability during flight. Proper adjustment of the angle of incidence is essential for achieving desired performance and handling qualities in an aircraft. The formula to calculate angle of incidence of wing as follows:
Where:
- is the angle of attack of the wing in radian,
- is the angle of attack of the tail in radian,
- is the downwash angle in radian,
- is the tail incidence angle in radian.