The drag polar is a graphical representation used in aircraft design and aerodynamics to depict the relationship between an aircraft’s drag coefficient () and its lift coefficient () at various flight conditions. It provides valuable insights into an aircraft’s aerodynamic performance, particularly in terms of drag and lift characteristics.
The drag polar is typically represented graphically, with on the vertical axis and on the horizontal axis. It consists of a curve that illustrates how drag and lift vary with changes in the aircraft’s angle of attack, airspeed, or other flight parameters.
- is the total drag coefficient (dimensionless).
- is the parasite drag coefficient (dimensionless) at that specific flight condition.
- is the lift-induced drag factor (dimensionless), which depends on the aircraft’s configuration and wing design.
- is the lift coefficient (dimensionless).