Do I need to install anything?

No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.

For Hobbyists & Makers · Airfoil Lift & Drag

Airfoil Lift & Drag for a space capsule

Built for hobbyists & makers exploring it for fun. Play with real physics and math, no license and no setup — just open and tinker. Simulate a space capsule live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.

Airfoil Lift & DragLive

the wing's polar

Controls

Presets

Angle of attack (°)

Aspect ratio

Lift rises almost linearly with angle of attack — until the airflow separates and the wing stalls, losing lift sharply. Drag has a fixed part plus induced drag that grows with lift squared and shrinks with aspect ratio. The lift-to-drag ratio, peaking at a modest angle, is the single number that governs a wing's efficiency.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Lift coeff. CL0.53

Drag coeff. CD0.033

Lift/Drag16.0

Statusattached

Governing equation

C_{D} = C_{D 0} + \frac{C _{L}^{2}}{π A R e} = 0.020 + \frac{0.5 3 ^{2}}{π \cdot 8 \cdot 0.85} = 0.033

Reading this result: Pre-stall: lift rises almost linearly with angle of attack at 6°, well below the ~15° stall angle. Adding camber would lift the entire curve higher.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this good for hobbyists & makers?: Yes — this version of "Airfoil Lift & Drag for a space capsule" is framed for hobbyists & makers exploring it for fun. Play with real physics and math, no license and no setup — just open and tinker.
Do I need to install anything?: No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.