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How Do I Create an Airfoil?

The airfoil of an airplane, otherwise known as the wing, is the part that provides the lift for the aircraft. Many people misunderstand the way a planes wing works, thinking that the key is the flat underside and that the top is merely aerodynamically shaped for efficiency. But the curved top of the airfoil shape produces lift by reducing the pressure of the air flowing across it. If you would like to demonstrate this to some students, you can easily create you own airfoil shape.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • Marker pen
  • Block of craft foam
  • Hot-wire foam cutter
  • Acrylic spray paint
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Instructions

    • 1

      Draw images of the wing shape on paper. They should all be to scale, so have a ruler handy. You will want one view from above, one from the front and one from the back.

    • 2

      Place the sheets on the block and use the Sharpie to trace the drawings onto the block. Plug in your hot-wire cutter and let it heat up.

    • 3

      Use the hot-wire cutter to start trimming away pieces of foam. This is very much a sculpting process. While you are trying to reach the lines you drew, remember that shape of the top of the wing between these lines needs to have curved rather than flat surfaces.

    • 4

      Spray paint the wing in the color of your choice to make it smooth.

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