I understand why the pressure is reduced above the wings of aircraft, but when I read books and look for information, it says that the air is compressed below the wings, I do not understand why it is? Could you tell me what makes the air compressed below the wing, and how is it compressed?
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1$\begingroup$ I still think this is the best, most accessible, explanation. $\endgroup$– Mike DunlaveyCommented Dec 18, 2013 at 19:49
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$\begingroup$ A very good book "Theory of Wing Sections" by Abbott aeroknowledge77.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/… $\endgroup$– OptionpartyCommented Dec 18, 2013 at 21:43
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1$\begingroup$ How Airplane wings really work - Professor Holger Babinsky, Cambridge University. $\endgroup$– RedGrittyBrickCommented Dec 18, 2013 at 22:49
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The simple answer is that a wing moves through the air generally at a non-zero angle of attack. The air flow below the wing sort of impacts the wing surface, compressing and slowing down as it is deflected.
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3$\begingroup$ This is troublesome, because it doesn't show the air being deflected downward, and it says nothing about the air above arriving at the trailing edge well in advance of the air underneath. $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 18, 2013 at 19:51
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$\begingroup$ ^But it's not necessary for the air at the trailing edge come in advance of the air under the wing. IIRC, the upper and lower currents can even meet at the trailing edge at the same time and lift can still be explained using Bernoulli's theorem. But reaction lift is a much better explanation IMO, although this diagram does not illustrate it properly. $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 29, 2013 at 14:38
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$\begingroup$ @shortstheory: This is my favorite explanation of all that. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 8, 2014 at 14:45