Airfoil Camber Cockpit 
Pilot Institute
JUNE 4, 2025
Use of Reflex Airfoils Ever notice how many tailless aircraft have wings that curve at the trailing edge? This type of design is a reflex airfoil. The reflexed shape of the airfoil usually causes a positive (nose-up) pitching moment coefficient at its aerodynamic center. Flying wings dont have tails or elevators.
Pilot Institute
JULY 11, 2025
Making the wing relatively flat on top with a blunter leading edge and more curvature on the bottom gives you a supercritical airfoil. For most aircraft with highly cambered wings or thick profiles, airflow accelerates over the top of the wing. Even the wing cross-section can be designed to redirect shock waves.
Simple Flying
JUNE 14, 2025
One of the most influential cockpit levers on a jet’s take-off is the flap handle. Hinged panels at the wing’s trailing and leading edges transform a sleek airfoil into a low-speed lift sail. Increasing camber, flaps propel an airliner to lift off at lower speeds, trading a little drag for a lot of lift.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
Let's personalize your content