Licensed under GFDL via Commons.Īs the center of gravity is moved forward, the stability of the aircraft increases (as the main wing lift arm is reduced) and the aircraft is statically stable.Īs the center of gravity is moved aft, the main wing lift moment arm increases and the aircraft stability decreases.

' AirStability' by User_A1 - SVG derivative of Public Domain work by G J Vigurs. This is counteracted by the moment produced by the lift of the horizontal stabilizer (which is a small wing), acting behind the center of gravity. This causes a destabilizing motion (increase in lift to increase in angle of attack causes a nose up moment, further increasing angle of attack). The lift of the wing acting through the center of pressure is in front of the center of gravity of the aircraft. Neutral Point Consider the whole aircraft. Due to this, the aerodynamic center, rather than the center of pressure is used in the analysis of longitudinal stability. Thus the aerodynamic center does not change with variation in angle of attack. This point is described as the quarter-chord point. Source: For symmetric airfoils in subsonic flight the aerodynamic center is located approximately 25% of the chord from the leading edge of the airfoil. However, the pitching moment remains constant at a particular point, which is called the aerodynamic center. As the angle of attack increases, the pitching moment at a point (for example, the center of gravity) also changes. Source: As the center of gravity (the point where the weight of the body acts) is fixed, this movement of center of pressure affects the stability of the aircraft.Īerodynamic Center The resultant (or the pressure forces) also cause a moment on the airfoil.

In the airplane's normal range of flight attitudes, if the angle of attack is increased, the center of pressure moves forward and if decreased, it moves rearward. Due to this, the center of pressure changes with variation in the angle of attack. In aerospace, this is the point on the airfoil (or wing) where the resultant vector (of lift and drag) acts.Īs the airfoil angle of attack changes, the pressure field changes. Let's take an airfoil moving in air with subsonic flow attached to the body.Ĭenter of Pressure The center of pressure is the point where the total sum of a pressure field acts on a body. The concepts of center of pressure, aerodynamics center and neutral point are useful in understanding the effects of these forces. Any body moving in a fluid experiences pressure forces over its surface.

Center of pressure airfoil