Angle of attack (source code)

= Angle of attack
{title2=$\alpha$}

The signed <angle> between a lifting surface's chord and its incoming relative flow. Positive incidence in the planar convention used in <airfoil> raises the leading edge relative to the trailing edge in a horizontal left-to-right flow. It is distinct from orientation relative to the ground; an induced <velocity> can change the local effective incidence.