In aircraft design and aviation, “MAC” stands for “Mean Aerodynamic Chord.” The Mean Aerodynamic Chord is a crucial parameter used to describe the average width or length of an aircraft’s wing, which simplifies calculations related to aircraft stability, control, and balance. The MAC is typically measured in a unit of length, such as meters or feet.
Formula for MAC: The formula for calculating the Mean Aerodynamic Chord (MAC) of an aircraft’s wing depends on the wing’s geometry. In general, for wings with simple shapes, you can calculate the MAC by dividing the wing’s total area (S) by its wingspan (b). The formula can be expressed as:
- MAC: Mean Aerodynamic Chord, measured in units like meters (m) or feet (ft).
- S: The total wing area, measured in square meters (m²) or square feet (ft²).
- b: The wingspan of the aircraft, measured in meters (m) or feet (ft).