Airfoil Data
C5B
LOCKHEED C-5A BL488.2 AIRFOIL
Wing Geometry Simulator
The LOCKHEED C-5A BL488.2 AIRFOIL is a thin 6.7% chord-thickness airfoil with a maximum camber of 3.4% at 45% chord, suited to high-speed UAVs, sailplane tip sections, and propeller blade design. At zero angle of attack the cambered geometry generates positive lift, giving an estimated zero-lift angle of -3.4°.
Thin airfoil theory predicts a stall angle near 11.9° and a peak lift-to-drag ratio around 54 at typical UAV and light-aircraft Reynolds numbers — useful benchmarks before running a full XFOIL or NeuralFoil polar. The slim profile minimises pressure drag at higher speeds but leaves limited spar depth for structural integration.
Designers evaluating the C5B typically compare it against profiles of similar thickness: BOEING BACXXX AIRFOIL, GOE 235 (SCHUETTE-LANZ) AIRFOIL, HUGHES HELICOPTERS HH-02 AIRFOIL, S2046, LOCKHEED C-141 BL426.57 AIRFOIL. The GIII BL369 AIRFOIL is another reference profile frequently considered alongside it.
Related Airfoils
Engineers evaluating the C5B frequently compare it against profiles with comparable geometric constraints. Below are the closest matches based on maximum thickness (6.7%) and max camber (3.4%).