The lift coefficient is a dimensionless quantity that characterizes the effectiveness of an airfoil or wing in generating lift. It is a measure of how efficiently an aircraft’s wings can produce lift for a given set of aerodynamic conditions. The lift coefficient is influenced by factors such as the shape of the airfoil, the angle of attack, and the airspeed. A higher lift coefficient generally indicates a greater ability to generate lift. The formula to calculate Lift coefficient as follows:
Where:
- CLα is the Lift curve slope,
- α is the Angle of attack in radian,
- αL=0 is the Zero lift Angle of attack in radian.