The wing angle of attack, often denoted as 𝛼, is a fundamental parameter in aerodynamics and aviation. It refers to the angle between the chord line of an airfoil (typically a wing or airfoil section) and the oncoming freestream airflow. The chord line is an imaginary straight line connecting the leading edge and trailing edge of the airfoil. In simpler terms, the wing angle of attack is the angle at which the wing is inclined relative to the direction of the oncoming air or wind. It is usually measured in degrees or radians. A positive angle of attack means that the wing is tilted upward, while a negative angle of attack indicates that the wing is tilted downward.
- Wing angle of attack (𝛼) in rad
- Lift coefficient (cl)
- Freestream Mach number (M∞)