Lift is the force that acts perpendicular to the direction of the airflow and supports the weight of an aircraft in flight. The amount of lift depends on several factors, such as the shape, size, and angle of the wing, the speed and density of the air, and the air pressure above and below the wing. One of the most important factors that affects lift is the angle of attack, which is the angle between the wing’s chord line and the direction of the airflow. The chord line is an imaginary straight line that connects the leading edge and the trailing edge of the wing.
- Angle of attack (𝛼) in rad
- Lift (L) in N