In order to generate lift, the upper surface of an airfoil must be more strongly curved than the lower surface?
Incorrect, since lift can be generated by symmetrical airfoil such as those used on acrobatic aircraft. Lift can also be generated by thin fabric airfoils, by sheets of paper (paper airplanes), by tilted pieces of flat plywood, or by “supercritical” airfoils which are more curved on the BOTTOM than the top. 9. The upper surface of a wing will deflect air, but the lower surface is horizontal, so it has little effect. INCORRECT. Incorrect, but for an interesting reason. If a thin flat wing deflects air downwards, diagrams show that the air above the wing and the air below the wing are equally deflected. Both the upper and lower surfaces create the lifting force. If we then make this wing thicker and streamlined, the total amount of deflected air and the lifting force remain the same… but the air below the wing APPEARS less deflected, and the air above the wing appears more deflected. Also, the pressure below the wing APPEARS to provide less lift. This happens because a thick wing must
