Airfoil Series: Pros & Cons

Here is a short table of Pros & Cons for the various types of airfoil series.

Family Advantages Disadvantages Applications
4-Digit 1. Good stall characteristics

2. Small center of pressure movement across large speed range

3. Roughness has little effect

1. Low maximum lift coefficient

2. Relatively high drag

3. High pitching moment

1. General aviation
2. Horizontal tails

Symmetrical:

3. Supersonic jets
4. Helicopter blades
5. Shrouds
6. Missile/rocket fins

5-Digit 1. Higher maximum lift coefficient

2. Low pitching moment

3. Roughness has little effect

1. Poor stall behavior

2. Relatively high drag

1. General aviation
2. Piston-powered bombers, transports
3. Commuters
4. Business jets
16-Series 1. Avoids low pressure peaks

2. Low drag at high speed

1. Relatively low lift 1. Aircraft propellers
2. Ship propellers
6-Series 1. High maximum lift coefficient

2. Very low drag over a small range of operating conditions

3. Optimized for high speed

1. High drag outside of the optimum range of operating conditions

2. High pitching moment

3. Poor stall behavior

4. Very susceptible to roughness

1. Piston-powered fighters
2. Business jets
3. Jet trainers
4. Supersonic jets
7-Series 1. Very low drag over a small range of operating conditions

2. Low pitching moment

1. Reduced maximum lift coefficient

2. High drag outside of the optimum range of operating conditions

3. Poor stall behavior

4. Very susceptible to roughness

Seldom used
8-Series Unknown Unknown Very seldom used

Obtained from the aerospaceweb.org website on the NACA Airfoil Series page.