Aerodynamic balance, often denoted as , is a parameter used in aircraft design to assess the balance between aerodynamic forces acting on an aircraft’s control surfaces and the moments created by those forces around the aircraft’s center of gravity (CG). It helps designers ensure that control surfaces are correctly sized and positioned for stable and controllable flight.
The formula for calculating aerodynamic balance () is as follows:
- is the aerodynamic balance (dimensionless).
- “Sum of Moments at Aerodynamic Center” refers to the total moments created by aerodynamic forces acting on the control surfaces, typically taken at the control surface’s aerodynamic center.
- “Sum of Moments at CG” refers to the total moments around the aircraft’s center of gravity created by the aerodynamic forces on the control surfaces.