What is the angle of incidence?

The angle of incidence refers to the fixed angle between an airplane's longitudinal axis and the chord line of the wing. This angle is crucial because it determines the aerodynamic characteristics of the wing and affects how the air flows over the wing during flight. A proper angle of incidence ensures that the wing generates enough lift at various speeds and angles of attack, contributing to the overall performance and stability of the aircraft.

This concept is foundational to understanding how aircraft are designed and how they behave in flight. The angle of incidence is typically set during the aircraft's design and is not altered during normal operations, differentiating it from other angles such as angle of attack, which can change based on the aircraft's orientation relative to airflow.