Keywords: Airfoil, Magnus Effect, Aeronautics, Wind Tunnel

An airfoil is a curved, cross-sectional area of a wing in which generates lift, so that humans can fly planes, jets, helicopters and drones. This design was first mimicked by the Wright Brothers, who studied the shape of bird wings, which inspired a typical airfoil we see today.

The magnus effect is a force exerted on a rotating cylinder or sphere, in which changes the original path of the object. Such as when someone tosses a hula-hoop with a backspin, it comes back to the spinner.

Scientists have tested both airfoils and the magnus effect, observing effects in wind tunnels in which provides an increase in lift. By combining the two phenomena, we get an airfoil with an integrated rotating cylinder.

This combination, in theory, may decrease the stall speed on an aircraft, proving to be an innovative asset in the safety of future aircraft. By increasing the lift generated on a wing, aircraft may have an increased rate of climb and a better fuel economy.

Wind tunnel data may include generated lift at various angles of attack, various cylinder rpm’s, and will be compared to the original NACA 0012 airfoil for comparison.