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Testing Some Thick Airfoils With X-foil

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durabol

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2010
Messages
169
Location
Lethbridge, Alberta / Canada
For a 20% and 22% thick airfoil the NLF420F/NLF422F has 4-5 drag points less then the next nearest airfoil, in fact the NLF420F is tied with the AS-NLF15 for lowest drag point total (with a CL around .2) with 35 which is surprising since it is a 20% thick airfoil. The NLF422F has the lowest drag of the 22% thick airfoils with 37 drag counts. The AS-NLF15 has the lowest drag of the 15% thick airfoils with 35. The AS5048(AS50-18) and the AS-NLF18 have the lowest drag of the 18% thick airfoils at 38. The NLF425F had the lowest drag of the 25% thick airfoils with 42 with a few other airfoils at 43.

This data makes it seems clear that most of the airfoils I tested aren't designed/optimized with X-foil as improvements seem possible.

I increased the thickness of the airfoils with X-foil and the LE radius seemed to be increase as well so I think some of the 20-25% thick airfoils would have less drag with a thinner LE.

The Riblett 40 series performed poorly with flaps but the other Riblett airfoils were fine.

I tried different LE radiuses and cambers for the NLF420F and the NLF422F but didn't get any improvement.

I couldn't get the data to format properly so see attached document.

CLmax at Re=2M .65/20 flaps .65/25 flaps drag count at CL at Re=6M camber LE radius
-23012: 1.6 Cm=-.02 2.0 Cm=-.07 2.0 Cm=-.09 55-53 at .22-.45 Cm=-.009
-23015: 1.7 Cm=-.02 2.1 Cm=-.07 60-59 at .25-.48 Cm=-.0095
-23018: 1.7 Cm=-.03 2.0 Cm=-.07 2.1 Cm=-.08 61-64 at .21-.45 Cm=-.007
-23020: 1.7 Cm=-.03 2.0 Cm=-.07 2.1 Cm=-.08 63-66 at .21-.44 Cm=-.006
-23022: 2.0 Cm=-.07 2.1 Cm=-.08 66-70 at .15-.4 Cm=-.004
-23025: 1.5 Cm=-.04 2.0 Cm=-.07 2.1 Cm=-.09 70-74 at .20-.44 Cm=-.001
-2412: 1.7 Cm=-.00 1.8 Cm=-.1 1.8 Cm=-.12 51-50 at .25-.48 Cm=-.054
-2415: 1.7 Cm=-.00 2.0 Cm=-.1 2.0 Cm=-.12 54-54 at .25-.49 Cm=-.054
-2418: 1.9 Cm=-.1 2.0 Cm=-.12 58-60 at .25-.48 Cm=-.053
-2420: 1.6 Cm=+.01 1.9 Cm=-.1 2.0 Cm=-.12 62-63 at .24-.48 Cm=-.052
-2422: 1.9 Cm=-.1 2.0 Cm=-.12 65-66 at .24-.47 Cm=-.050
-2425: 1.6 Cm=+.01 1.9 Cm=-.1 2.0 Cm=-.12 69-70 at .23-.46 Cm=-.048
-4412: 1.7 Cm=-.00 1.9 Cm=-.12 2.0 Cm=-.13 56-54 at .26-.49 Cm=-.106
-4415: 1.7 Cm=-.00 2.0 Cm=-.12 2.0 Cm=-.14 61-60 at .26-.50 Cm=-.105
-4418: 1.7 Cm=-.00 2.0 Cm=-.12 2.0 Cm=-.14 63-62 at .25-.49 Cm=-.104
-4420: 1.7 Cm=-.03 2.0 Cm=-.12 2.0 Cm=-.14 66-65 at .25-.49 Cm=-.101
-4422: 1.7 Cm=-.03 2.0 Cm=-.12 2.0 Cm=-.14 70-68 at .24-.48 Cm=-.099
-4425: 2.0 Cm=-.12 2.0 Cm=-.14 74-73 at .24-.45 Cm=-.093
-AS5045: 1.7 Cm=-.04 1.9 Cm=-.125 2.0 Cm=-.13 37-43 at .15-.39 Cm=-.058
*-AS50-18: 1.7 Cm=-.04 1.9 Cm=-.125 2.0 Cm=-.14 38-42 at .15-.40 Cm=-.057
-AS50-20: 1.9 Cm=-.125 2.0 Cm=-.14 40-43 at .15-.40 Cm=-.056
-AS50-22: 1.5 Cm=-.05 1.9 Cm=-.14 2.0 Cm=-.15 42-44 at .15-.40 Cm=-.058
-AS50-25: 1.6 Cm=-.05 1.9 Cm=-.14 2.0 Cm=-.16 43-45 at .14-.40 Cm=-.056
*-AS-NLF15: 1.6 Cm=-.01 1.9 Cm=-.12 1.9 Cm=-.3 35-46 at .20-.44 Cm=-.036
*-AS-NLF18: 1.6 Cm=-.01 1.9 Cm=-.11 2.0 Cm=-.3 38-45 at .21-.45 Cm=-.035
-AS-NLF20: 1.6 Cm=-.01 1.9 Cm=-.12 2.0 Cm=-.3 40-46 at .21-.45 Cm=-.036
-AS-NLF22: 1.6 Cm=-.01 1.9 Cm=-.12 1.9 Cm=-.25 41-46 at .21-.46 Cm=-.035
-AS-NLF25: 1.5 Cm=-.01 1.9 Cm=-.12 1.9 Cm=-.25 43-46 at .20-.46 Cm=-.035
-CLARKY: 1.7 Cm=-.03 1.9 Cm=-.11 2.0 Cm=-.13 60-60 at .17-.41 Cm=-.085
-CLARK15: 1.6 Cm=-.03 1.9 Cm=-.11 2.0 Cm=-.13 65-67 at .18-.40 Cm=-.084
-CLARK18: 1.7 Cm=-.02 2.0 Cm=-.11 2.1 Cm=-.13 68-72 at .18-.39 Cm=-.082
-CLARK20: 1.7 Cm=-.02 2.1 Cm=-.13 73-74 at .28-.49 Cm=-.077
-CLARK22: 1.6 Cm=-.02 2.0 Cm=-.11 2.1 Cm=-.13 78-77 at .17-.48 Cm=-.076
-CLARK25: 1.6 Cm=-.01 2.0 Cm=-.11 2.1 Cm=-.14 87-83 at .14-.42 Cm=-.066
-GA30-212 1.5 Cm=+.04 51-54 at .19-.41 Cm=-.034
-GA30-312 1.5 Cm=+.04 51-53 at .15-.48 Cm=-.050
-GA30A212: 1.7 Cm=-.00 2.0 Cm=-.08 2.0 Cm=-.1 52-55 at .19-.42 Cm=-.035
-GA30A215: 1.7 Cm=+.01 2.0 Cm=-.08 2.0 Cm=-.1 54-59 at .19-.42 Cm=-.035
-GA30A218: 1.6 Cm=+.01 2.0 Cm=-.08 2.0 Cm=-.1 59-65 at .20-.42 Cm=-.034
-GA30A220: 1.6 Cm=+.01 2.0 Cm=-.08 2.0 Cm=-.1 63-67 at .19-.42 Cm=-.033
-GA30A222: 2.0 Cm=-.08 2.0 Cm=-.1 66-69 at .19-.41 Cm=-.032
-GA30A225: 1.9 Cm=-.08 2.0 Cm=-.1 71-72 at .18-.40 Cm=-.029
-GA30A312: 1.7 Cm=-.01 52-52 at .15-.37 Cm=-.051
-GA35-215: 1.3 Cm=+.03 43-45 at .19-.43 Cm=-.037
-GA35A215: 1.5 Cm=-.00 1.8 Cm=-.1 1.8 Cm=-.14 44-45 at .19-.42 Cm=-.036
-GA35A218: 1.5 Cm=-.00 1.8 Cm=-.1 1.8 Cm=-.14 45-47 at .19-.43 Cm=-.036
-GA35A220: 1.5 Cm=-.00 1.8 Cm=-.1 1.8 Cm=-.14 48-51 at .19-.42 Cm=-.035
-GA35A222: 1.5 Cm=-.00 1.8 Cm=-.1 51-53 at .19-.42 Cm=-.035
-GA35A225: 1.4 Cm=-.00 1.7 Cm=-.1 1.8 Cm=-.14 54-56 at .18-.41 Cm=-.031
-GA35A315: 1.5 Cm=-.02 51-43 at .16-.38 Cm=-.051
-GA35A318: 1.5 Cm=-.01 47-47 at .16-.39 Cm=-.051
-GA37A215: 1.5 Cm=-.02 1.8 Cm=-.1 1.9 Cm=-.11 42-43 at .19-.42 Cm=-.036
-GA37A218: 1.5 Cm=-.01 1.8 Cm=-.1 1.9 Cm=-.11 44-47 at .19-.42 Cm=-.036
-GA37A220: 1.5 Cm=-.00 1.8 Cm=-.1 1.9 Cm=-.11 46-48 at .19-.42 Cm=-.036
-GA37A222: 1.5 Cm=-.00 1.9 Cm=-.11 48-50 at .19-.42 Cm=-.034
-GA37A225: 1.4 Cm=+.01 1.7 Cm=-.1 52-54 at .18-.41 Cm=-.032
-GA37A315: 1.5 Cm=-.00 50-43 at .16-.38 Cm=-.053
-GA37A318: 1.5 Cm=-.01 45-46 at .16-.39 Cm=-.052
-GA40-315: 1.2 Cm=+.04 57-38 at .16-.39 Cm=-.053
-GA40A215: 1.3 Cm=+.05 1.6 Cm=-.05 1.6 Cm=-.07 45-45 at .20-.43 Cm=-.039
-GA40A218: 1.3 Cm=+.05 1.6 Cm=-.07 41-42 at .20-.44 Cm=-.039
-GA40A220: 1.3 Cm=-.04 1.5 Cm=-.03 1.5 Cm=-.05 42-42 at .20-.45 Cm=-.039
-GA40A222: 1.2 Cm=-.04 1.4 Cm=-.02 1.4 Cm=-.05 43-45 at .20-.44 Cm=-.038
-GA40A225: 1.2 Cm=-.00 1.3 Cm=-.02 46-47 at .19-.43 Cm=-.036
-GA40A315: 1.3 Cm=+.02 57-38 at .17-.39 Cm=-.053
-GA40A318: 1.2 Cm=+.03 60-40 at .18-.40 Cm=-.055
-LA203A: 1.9 Cm=-.1 65-60 at .21-.46 Cm=-.18
-LA203A15: 1.9 Cm=-.1 65-60 at .21-.46 Cm=-.18
-LA203A18: 1.7 Cm=-.1 68-63 at .20-.45 Cm=-.18
-LA203A20: 1.3
-LA203A22: 2.1 Cm=-.24 2.15 Cm=-2.6
-LA203A25: 2.1 Cm=-.21 2.2 Cm=-2.3
-LANCAIr4: 1.4 Cm=+.04 1.8 Cm=-.09 1.9 Cm=-.12 37-40 at .15-.39 Cm=-.035
-LANCAI15: 1.4 Cm=+.04 1.8 Cm=-.1 1.9 Cm=-.12
-LANCAI18: 1.8 Cm=-.08 1.8 Cm=-.12 40-42 at .15-.39 Cm=-.034
-LANCAI20: 1.3 Cm=+.03 1.7 Cm=-.1 1.8 Cm=-.11 43-44 at .15-.38 Cm=-.033
-LANCAI22: 1.3 Cm=+.03 1.6 Cm=-.09 1.8 Cm=-.1
-LANCAI25:
-LS413(GAW-2): 1.8 Cm=-.05 2.1 Cm=-.13 2.1 Cm=-.14 56-46 at .15-.40 Cm=-.11
-LS415(GAW-2): 1.8 Cm=-.05 2.1 Cm=-.13 2.1 Cm=-.15 59-52 at .15-.40 Cm=-.11
-LS418(GAW-2): 1.8 Cm=-.06 2.1 Cm=-.14 2.15 Cm=-.16 58-49 at .15-.42 Cm=-.11
-LS420(GAW-2): 1.8 Cm=-.06 2.1 Cm=-.14 2.2 Cm=-.17 59-51 at .15-.42 Cm=-.11
-LS422(GAW-2): 1.8 Cm=-.06 2.1 Cm=-.15 2.2 Cm=-.16 58-50 at .15-.42 Cm=-.11
-LS425(GAW-2): 1.7 Cm=-.06 2.1 Cm=-.15 2.2 Cm=-.18 61-50 at .14-.43 Cm=-.11
-LS417(GAW-1): 1.9 Cm=-.06 2.1 Cm=-.13 2.2 Cm=-.15 60-51 at .15-.43 Cm=-.11
-LS417-15: 1.9 Cm=-.06 2.1 Cm=-.13 2.2 Cm=-.16 59-51 at .16-.42 Cm=-.11
-LS417-18: 2.1 Cm=-.14 2.15 Cm=-.16 59-49 at .16-.43 Cm=-.11
-LS417-20: 1.9 Cm=-.06 2.1 Cm=-.14 2.2 Cm=-.16 59-49 at .16-.43 Cm=-.11
-LS417-22: 2.1 Cm=-.15 2.2 Cm=-.17 61-50 at .16-.44 Cm=-.11
-LS417-25: 2.1 Cm=-.16 2.2 Cm=-.17
-NLF-AS: 1.7 Cm=-.04 2.0 Cm=-.12 2.0 Cm=-.14 39-47 at .11-.47 Cm=-.079
-NLF-AS15: 1.7 Cm=-.04 2.0 Cm=-.12 2.0 Cm=-.14 40-49 at .11-.47 Cm=-.080
-NLF-AS18: 1.7 Cm=-.04 2.0 Cm=-.12 2.0 Cm=-.14 40-45 at .11-.48 Cm=-.078
-NLF-AS20: 1.7 Cm=-.04 2.0 Cm=-.13 2.0 Cm=-.15 41-45 at .10-.48 Cm=-.079
-NLF-AS22: 1.7 Cm=-.04 2.0 Cm=-.13 2.0 Cm=-.15 43-45 at .10-.49 Cm=-.077
-NLF-AS25: 1.7 Cm=-.04 2.0 Cm=-.13 2.0 Cm=-.15 46-48 at .22-.48 Cm=-.077
-NLF0115: 1.6 Cm= 1.8 Cm=-.16 39-40 at .16-.40 Cm=-.055
-NLF0118: 1.5 Cm=+.01 1.9 Cm=-.09 1.9 Cm=-.12 39-42 at .16-.39 Cm=-.057
-NLF0120: 1.6 Cm=+.01 1.9 Cm=-.09 2.0 Cm=-.11 41-43 at .15-.39 Cm=-.052
-NLF0122: 1.5 Cm=+.01 1.9 Cm=-.09 1.9 Cm=-.11 43-45 at .14-.38 Cm=-.049
-NLF0125: 1.4 Cm=+.02 1.8 Cm=-.09 1.7 Cm=-.11 46-46 at .12-.35 Cm=-.043
-NLF0215F: 1.8 Cm=-.08 2.0 Cm=-.18 2.0 Cm=-.2 65-57 at .20-.44 Cm=-.15
-NLF0218F: 1.7 Cm=-.08 2.0 Cm=-.18 2.05 Cm=-.2 62-55 at .31-.44 Cm=-.14
-NLF0220F: 1.7 Cm=-.08 2.0 Cm=-.17 2.0 Cm=-.2 69-51 at .18-.44 Cm=-.14
-NLF0222F: 1.6 Cm=-.06 2.0 Cm=-.17 2.0 Cm=-.2 71-50 at .17-.42 Cm=-.14
-NLF0225F: 1.6 Cm=-.08 1.9 Cm=-.17 2.0 Cm=-.21 73-50 at .15-.42 Cm=-.13
-NLF414F: 2.0 Cm=-.13 2.0 Cm=-.14 45-31 at .22-.46 Cm=-.076
-NLF415F: 1.7 Cm=-.03 2.0 Cm=-.13 2.05 Cm=-.14 44-32 at .22-.47 Cm=-.076
-NLF418F: 1.7 Cm=-.03 1.9 Cm=-.13 1.95 Cm=-.15 39-36 at .22-.48 Cm=-.079
*-NLF420F: 1.6 Cm=-.03 1.9 Cm=-.13 1.9 Cm=-.16 35-40 at .22-.48 Cm=-.079 .024 .031
*-NLF422F: 1.3 Cm=-.04 1.9 Cm=-.13 1.95 Cm=-.16 37-41 at .23-.36 Cm=-.077 .024 .037
-NLF425F: 1.5 Cm=-.03 2.0 Cm=-.13 2.0 Cm=-.16 42-44 at .23-.36 Cm=-.077 .024 .038
-SM701: 1.8 Cm=-.06 1.9 Cm=-.18 2.0 Cm=-.19 61-49 at .11-.36 Cm=-.13
-SM701-15: 1.8 Cm=-.06 2.0 Cm=-.17 60-51 at .12-.36 Cm=-.13
-SM701-18: 1.8 Cm=-.06 2.0 Cm=-.16 2.0 Cm=-.19 60-44 at .11-.35 Cm=-.13
-SM701-20: 1.8 Cm=-.06 2.0 Cm=-.16 59-45 at .10-.35 Cm=-.12
-SM701-22: 1.7 Cm=-.06 2.0 Cm=-.16 2.1 Cm=-.17 53-49 at .20-.43 Cm=-.12
-SM701-25: 1.6 Cm=-.02 2.0 Cm=-.16 2.1 Cm=-.17 52-51 at .16-.38 Cm=-.12
LE Radius: used scaling factor of .50-1.50 (above 1 for larger radius/below for smaller)
-NLF420F: 1.6 Cm=-.03 1.9 Cm=-.13 1.9 Cm=-.16 35-40 at .22-.48 Cm=-.079 .02 .031
-NLF42050 36-38 at .23-.35
-NLF42060 37-38 at .23-.35
-NLF42070 36-38 at .23-.35
-NLF42080 36-38 at .23-.35
-NLF42090 36-38 at .23-.35
-NLF42095 35-38 at .23-.35
-NLF20105 36-40 at .23-.48
-NLF20110 37-40 at .22-.48
-NLF20125 42-40 at .23-.48
-NLF20150 33-36 at .35-.48
-
-NLF422F: 1.3 Cm=-.04 1.9 Cm=-.13 1.95 Cm=-.16 37-41 at .23-.36 Cm=-.077 .024 .037
-NLF42250 1.5 Cm=-.03 1.9 Cm=-.13 1.9 Cm=-.16 41-38 at .10-.36 Cm=-075
-NLF42260 1.5 Cm=-.03 1.9 Cm=-.13 1.9 Cm=-.16 38-40 at .10-.36 Cm=-077
-NLF42270 1.9 Cm=-.13 39-40 at .10-.36 Cm=-075
-NLF42280 1.5 Cm=-.03 1.9 Cm=-.13 1.9 Cm=-.16 45-41 at .10-.36 Cm=-075
-NLF42290 1.6 Cm=-.03 1.9 Cm=-.13 1.9 Cm=-.16 38-41 at .23-.36 Cm=-077
-NLF42295 1.6 Cm=-.03 1.5 Cm=-.19 1.9 Cm=-.16 38-41 at .22-.36 Cm=-075
-NLF22105 37-39 at .23-.46 Cm=-075
-NLF22110 37-38 at .23-.36 Cm=-075
-NLF22125 39-36 at .23-.36 Cm=-075
-NLF22150 47-35 at .23-.36 Cm=-075
Camber: range of .005-.050
-NLF420F: 1.6 Cm=-.03 1.9 Cm=-.13 1.9 Cm=-.16 35-40 at .22-.48 Cm=-.079 .02 .031
-NLF40C05 36-40 at .21-.33
-NLF40C10 38-37 at .15-.28
-NLF40C15 37-36 at .23-.36
-NLF40C20 35-39 at .17-.43
-NLF40C25 35-37 at .24-.37
-NLF40C30 56-37 at .19-.45
-NLF40C35 59-37 at .27-.52
-NLF40C40 69-45 at .21-.47
-NLF40C45 66-62 at .28-.41
-NLF40C50 71-63 at .24-.48
-
-NLF422F: 1.3 Cm=-.04 1.9 Cm=-.13 1.95 Cm=-.16 37-41 at .23-.36 Cm=-.077 .024 .037
-NLF42C05 39-40 at .21-.34
-NLF42C10 39-38 at .15-.42
-NLF42C15 39-38 at .23-.49
-NLF42C20 37-39 at .17-.44
-NLF42C25 37-43 at .25-.51
-NLF42C30 53-41 at .19-.45
-NLF42C35 56-41 at .27-.40
-NLF42C40 70-39 at .21-.47
-NLF42C45 70-44 at .29-.55
-NLF42C50 75-62 at .23-.49

Brock
 

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