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Airfoil
The Airfoil object can be used to apply aerodynamic forces to any object supporting physics, like a RigidBody-based airplane fuselage.
This allows you to realistically simulate aircraft, submarines or any other object moving through a fluid.
You can visually apply ('attach') an Airfoil to any object in the scene, launch the simulation and see what happens.
After adding the Airfoil object to your project, you can configure it by double-clicking it in the Object List.
Checking this option helps you see the airfoil reference geometry runtime. This is useful for example when testing airfoils that can be controlled and rotate about their axis.
The bigger the airfoil surface, the greater the lift force produced.
While freely experimenting with this parameter is highly recommended, please keep in mind that the easiest way to setup an aircraft which can actually fly is by using real airplanes' specifications as a reference.
The bigger the ratio, the smaller the effect of drag forces on the airfoil.
In general, reducing this factor makes a plane less realistic but easier to control.
Again, experimenting is paramount, but sticking to real-world values usually gives the best results.
Setting this factor to any non-zero, positive value will automatically apply a force to the object linked to the airfoil (e.g. airplane fuselage) to prevent it from banking/pitching too much.
The bigger the value, the stronger the force applied.
This option halps you setup aircrafts that tend to fly horizontally and are easier to control.
Enabling auto-balance for more than one single airfoil attached to the same aircraft is not recommended. You should only enable auto-balance for one single airfoil per aircraft (usually the main wing).
You can make the airfoil interactive by checking the box next to the input controls (Decrease angle control, Increase angle control).
This option is typically checked for airfoils that will work as elevators, rudders, ailerons etc.
Please note that this option must be unchecked if you want to control the airfoil by manipulating its internal value, for example by using the Script object. See internal values table below for more.
Please note that delays should be set to 0.0 if proportional controls are used (see ConfigureControls for details).
The remaining property dialog controls are common to all objects. They are explained here.
The following internal parameters can be accessed by using other objects like EventOnValue or Script:
