Open FoilSim .

Use the Flight Test, Shape, and Size input panels to set the following conditions:
Airspeed

100

Altitude

Angle

0.0

Thickness

12.5

Camber

5.0

Area

Step 1.
Using FoilSim, change the values for Area only. Pick 5 different values for the wing area. Record the values you used for
area and the resulting lift.

Area (sq ft)

Lift (lbs)

15

30

60

120

16

241

12

181

Step 2.
Graph your recorded data for wing area and lift.

Step 3.
State the relationship between area and lift.

Lift = 15.08(Area)-0.2205
Step 4.
Using FoilSim, change the values for Altitude only. Reset the airfoil conditions to the original values given above. Pick 5
different values for the altitude. Record the resulting values for density and the resulting lift.

Altitude (ft)

Density
(slug/ft^3)

Lift (lbs)

6000

1.98e-3

12

12000

1.64e-3

10

18000

1.35e-3

8.615

24000

1.1e-3

7.019

30000

8.9e-4

5.66

Step 5.
Graph your recorded data for density and lift.

Step 6.
State the relationship between density and lift.
Lift = 5740(density) + 0.67
Step 7.
Using FoilSim, change the values for Velocity (airspeed) only. Reset the airfoil conditions to the original values given
above. Pick 5 different values for the velocity. Record the values you used for velocity and the resulting lift.

Velocity ()

Lift

129

25

158

37

187

52

216

70

245

90

100

15

Step 8.
Graph your recorded data for velocity (airspeed) and lift.

Step 9.
State the relationship between the velocity and the lift.

L=1.5e-3(v^2)-2.5e-2(v)+1.843
Step 10.
Using the lift equation, calculate the lift generated by an aircraft flying at 10,000 ft at a speed of 120 ft./sec. The wing area
is 500 ft.2 and the lift coefficient is 1.67. (You will need to use FoilSim or your graph to find the density at the given
altitude.)

L = 1.67*0.00175 slug/ft^3*(120^2 ft^2 / 2sec) * 500 ft^2 = 10521 lbs

Step 11.
Calculate the lift coefficient for an aircraft with a 240 ft.2 wing area and a speed of 190 ft./sec. that can generate 9530 lbs.
of lift in air with a density of 0.00165 slug/ft. 3

L = CI*0.00165 slug/ft^3*(190^2 ft^2 / 2sec) * 240 ft^2 = 9530 lbs => CI = 1.333
Step 12.
Find the velocity of an aircraft that generates 30,590 lbs. of lift when the wing area is 800 ft. 2. The lift coefficient for the
aircraft is 1.4, and the air density is 0.00089 slug/ft.3

L = 1.4*0.00089 slug/ft^3*(V^2 ft^2 / 2sec) * 800 ft^2 = 30590 lbs => V^2 = 61376.404 ft^2/sec^2
=> V = 247.74 ft/sec
Step 13.
Using the graph you constructed in Step 2, find the lift produced by a wing area of 1200 ft. 2

18122 lbs
Step 14.
Using your graph from Step 5 and FoilSim, find the altitude for an aircraft that generates a lift of 15.39 lbs. (Remember:
Set the airfoil conditions to the original settings given at the beginning of this worksheet.)
using the defaults indicated at the beginning of this page puts 15.39 lbs positive lift force beyond the scope of this wing
regardless of altitude. At altitude 0.0, the wing only produces 15 lbs of positive lift.

Questions you should be able to answer by manipulating variables in FOIL

1. How does the lift depend on airspeed?
Lift has a quadratic relationship with airspeed. As airspeed doubles lift will quadruple.
2. How does the lift depend on altitude?
The higher the altitude (and consequently, the less atmospheric density) the weaker the lift force.
3. How does the lift depend on wing angle?
A greater angle of attack up to 15.48 degrees will increase lift, any further beyond this, and lift will
begin to decrease again.
4. How does the lift depend on wing thickness?
Thickening the wing increases area. Lift scales linearly with area.
5. How does the lift depend on wing camber?
Apparently, the greater the Camber, the greater the lift. (although drag is massively increased with large
cambers)
6. How does the lift depend on wing area?
Lift scales linearly with area.
7. The lift can be calculated by determining the area of what type of plot?
Air-pressure over % of chord (both over the bottom of the wing, and over the top.) Finding the area
between the two lines (on integral minus the second integral) can determine lift. Note: pressure on the
bottom surface of the wing should greatly exceed pressure on the top surface for positive lift.