The Oxford English Dictionary quotes earlier aviation publications: Decalage, the difference in angle of incidence between any two distinct airfoils on an aeroplane; e.g., the main plane and the tail; or more usually between the chords of the upper and lower planes of a biplane. (from a 1917 publication). Decalage, The term aerodynamic decalage.. defined as the angle that the no lift angle of the upper plane makes with the no lift angle of the lower plane, positive when the upper plane is at greater incidence than the lower.(from a 1933 publication). While these earlier definitions were oriented towards biplanes, they include the more modern usage associated with conventional single-wing airplanes. Today, the usual definition of decalage is the angle that the no-lift angle of the wing makes with the no-lift angle of the tail (the combination of stabilizer and elevator, or the equivalent for a V tail). The decalage is positive when the wing is at greater incidence than the tail. Positive decalage implies that the wing lift is upward while the tail lift is downward. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dr. Richard C. Williamson Phone: 781-981-7857 Room C-317 FAX: 781-981-0122 Lincoln Laboratory Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Massachusetts Institute of Technology 244 Wood Street Lexington, MA 02420-9108 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
