Statistical Analysis of Airfoil Usage in Aircraft

Abstract

The study aims to answer how frequently airfoils are used in fixed and rotary wing aerial vehicles produced both individually and based on airfoil families. Frequency distribution analysis of airfoil utilization in fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft helps in understanding design preferences and performance needs and constraints. The literature study provides the history of airfoils, the subjects mostly studied regarding airfoils and mentions the current state of the field. The study investigates the airfoil families to which the wing profiles of approximately 6,000 fixed-wing and approximately 450 rotary-wing aircraft belong through frequency distribution. The results indicate that in fixed-wing aircraft, NACA airfoils are used in 52.2%, Clark-Y airfoils in 8.2%, Goettingen airfoils in 5.9%, Wortman airfoils in 4.8%, and TsAGI airfoils in 3.1%. When considered as singular airfoil use rather than airfoil families, Clark-Y is the most widely used airfoil, followed by the NACA 23XXX series. In rotary-wing aircraft, NACA 0012 and NACA 0015 airfoils, both symmetrical profiles developed by NACA, are the most widely used. The study is valuable as it provides statistical data on the use of both airfoil families and singular airfoil design in fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. However, it is important to note that the airfoil data is incomplete, and the study aims to provide a general impression of the findings.

Keywords

• Airfoil usage
• airfoil design
• NACA airfoils
• Wortmann FX airfoils
• Goettingen airfoils

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