# Talk:Pitching moment

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WikiProject Aviation / Aircraft (Rated Start-class)
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## Coefficient?

This page doesn't have the pitching moment coefficient. It should. —Ben FrantzDale 06:16, 3 May 2007 (UTC)

Also, it should have some discussion of the significance of the aerodynamic centre of a wing / tailplane, and the neutral point (=aerodynamic centre) of an aircraft.

This is a very important page for aeronautical / aerospace engineering.

130.88.155.135 11:13, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

I agree. I just gave it importance "Mid" and rating "Start". —Ben FrantzDale 13:35, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

## Airfoil or Configuration?

In introducing section properties we are confusing the issue somewhat. The opening paragraph belongs to a separate article on pitching moment coefficient, which should cover effects such as camber, and flaps on section pitching moment, and planform effects on complete wings, possibly including pictures of flow fields and corresponding pressure distributions, around the airfoil sections.

When considering the application of this knowledge to assessing the stability of complete configurations, this basic knowledge is taken as read. The original article was concerned with the effect of all components on the trim and stability of the complete configuration, which is not determined by the mainplane section properties alone. It would be helpful if an article specifically on airfoil pitching moment coefficient, could be referenced.

Longitudinal static stability and the physics of generating moments on a lifting surface are obviously related, but they are not the same subject. Gordon Vigurs 09:16, 19 August 2007 (UTC)

Gordon, thank you for your thoughtfulness. You are welcome to Wikipedia:Be bold and make the improvements you suggest. Other editors will either agree and continue the work, or disagree and do something different. Thus does Wikipedia improve. --Jdlh | Talk 19:56, 19 August 2007 (UTC)

## Question

On 15 July 2008, contributor 128.158.218.132 posted the following question on Pitching moment. The question is not asked appropriately within the article, but it is most appropriate for this Talk page:

Where D and L {indicated} equals ?????, please define.

The question relates to the following equation:

$M_{c/4} = M_\text{indicated} + \mathbf{x}\times (D_\text{indicated}, L_\text{indicated})$.

This equation is relevant to measurements made on an aircraft model in a wind tunnel. I believe the equation states that the pitching moment at the quarter-chord position is equal to the pitching moment indicated by a measuring sensor located distance x from the quarter-chord, plus an increment in pitching moment due to drag (D) measured by the sensor, and an increment in pitching moment due to lift (L) measured by the sensor. Dolphin51 (talk) 23:45, 15 July 2008 (UTC)