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# NACA airfoil

The NACA airfoils are airfoil shapes for aircraft wings developed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The shape of the NACA airfoils is described using a series of digits following the word "NACA." The parameters in the numerical code can be entered into equations to precisely generate the cross-section of the airfoil and calculate its properties.

## Four-digit series

The NACA four-digit wing sections define the profile by:[1]

1. One digit describing maximum camber as percentage of the chord.
2. One digit describing the distance of maximum camber from the airfoil leading edge in tens of percents of the chord.
3. Two digits describing maximum thickness of the airfoil as percent of the chord.

For example, the NACA 2412 airfoil has a maximum camber of 2% located 40% (0.4 chords) from the leading edge with a maximum thickness of 12% of the chord. Four-digit series airfoils by default have maximum thickness 30% of the chord (0.3 chords) from the leading edge.

The NACA 0015 airfoil is symmetrical, the 00 indicating that it has no camber. The 15 indicates that the airfoil has a 15% thickness to chord length ratio: it is 15% as thick as it is long.

## Five-digit series

The NACA five-digit series describes more complex airfoil shapes:[2]

1. First digit (left-most digit) gives the maximum camber (as a percentage of the cord).
2. Second and third digits, when divided by 2, give $p$, the distance of maximum camber from the leading edge (as per cent of chord).
3. Fourth and fifth digits give the maximum thickness of the airfoil (as per cent of the chord).

For example, the NACA 12345 airfoil has lift coefficient 0.15, maximum camber 0.115 chords from the leading edge, and a maximum thickness of 0.45 of the chord. Five-digit series airfoils by default have maximum thickness at 30% the chord (0.3 chords) from the leading edge.

The camber-line is defined in two sections:

$y = \begin{cases}\frac{k_1}{6}\left\{x^3-3mx^2+m^2(3-m)x\right\}, & 0<x<m \\ \frac{k_1 m^3}{6}(1-x), & m<x<1\end{cases}$

where the chordwise location $x$ and the ordinate $y$ have been normalized by the chord. The constant $m$ is chosen so that the maximum camber occurs at $x=p$; for example, for the 230 camber-line, $p=0.3/2=0.15$ and $m=0.2025$.

## Modifications

Four- and five-digit series airfoils can be modified with a two-digit code preceded by a hyphen in the following sequence:

1. One digit describing the roundness of the leading edge with 0 being sharp, 6 being the same as the original airfoil, and larger values indicating a more rounded leading edge.
2. One digit describing the distance of maximum thickness from the leading edge in tens of percent of the chord.

For example, the NACA 1234-05 is a NACA 1234 airfoil with a sharp leading edge and maximum thickness 50% of the chord (0.5 chords) from the leading edge.

In addition, for a more precise description of the airfoil all numbers can be presented as decimals.

## 1-series

A new approach to airfoil design pioneered in the 1930s in which the airfoil shape was mathematically derived from the desired lift characteristics. Prior to this, airfoil shapes were first created and then had their characteristics measured in a wind tunnel. The 1-series airfoils are described by five digits in the following sequence:

1. The number "1" indicating the series
2. One digit describing the distance of the minimum pressure area in tens of percent of chord.
3. A hyphen.
4. One digit describing the lift coefficient in tenths.
5. Two digits describing the maximum thickness in tens of percent of chord.

For example, the NACA 16-123 airfoil has minimum pressure 60% of the chord back with a lift coefficient of 0.1 and maximum thickness of 23% of the chord.

## 6-series

An improvement over 1-series airfoils with emphasis on maximizing laminar flow. The airfoil is described using six digits in the following sequence:

1. The number "6" indicating the series.
2. One digit describing the distance of the minimum pressure area in tens of percent of chord.
3. The subscript digit gives the range of lift coefficient in tenths above and below the design lift coefficient in which favorable pressure gradients exist on both surfaces
4. A hyphen.
5. One digit describing the design lift coefficient in tenths.
6. Two digits describing the maximum thickness in tens of percent of chord.

For example, the NACA 612-345 a=0.5 has the area of minimum pressure 10% of the chord back, maintains low drag 0.2 above and below the lift coefficient of 0.3, has a maximum thickness of 45% of the chord, and maintains laminar flow over 50% of the chord.

## 7-series

Further advancement in maximizing laminar flow achieved by separately identifying the low pressure zones on upper and lower surfaces of the wing. The airfoil is described by seven digits in the following sequence:

1. The number "7" indicating the series.
2. One digit describing the distance of the minimum pressure area on the upper surface in tens of percent of chord.
3. One digit describing the distance of the minimum pressure area on the lower surface in tens of percent of chord.
4. One letter referring to a standard profile from the earlier NACA series.
5. One digit describing the lift coefficient in tenths.
6. Two digits describing the maximum thickness in tens of percent of chord.
7. "a=" followed by a decimal number describing the fraction of chord over which laminar flow is maintained. a=1 is the default if no value is given.

For example, the NACA 712A345 has the area of minimum pressure 10% of the chord back on the upper surface and 20% of the chord back on the lower surface, uses the standard "A" profile, has a lift coefficient of 0.3, and has a maximum thickness of 45% of the chord.

## 8-series

Supercritical airfoils designed to independently maximize airflow above and below the wing. The numbering is identical to the 7-series airfoils except that the sequence begins with an "8" to identify the series.

## References

1. E. N. Jacobs, K. E. Ward, & R. M. Pinkerton 1933 The characteristics of 78 related airfoil sections from tests in the variable-density wind tunnel, NACA Report No. 460.
2. E. N. Jacobs & R. M. Pinkerton 1936 Test in the variable-density wind tunnel of related airfoils having the maximum camber unusually far forward, NACA Report No. 537.