Definition
The point along the chord line of an airfoil where the curvature of the wing's mean camber line is greatest, expressed as the largest distance between the chord line and the mean camber line. Its location, given as a percentage of chord from the leading edge, is a key design feature that influences a wing's lift and stall characteristics.
Plain English
The spot on a wing where its curve is at its deepest, measured from the straight line running from the front edge to the back edge.
Context Anchor
Seen in airfoil diagrams and explanations of how wing shape affects lift and handling.
Derivation
Camber comes from the Old French 'cambre,' meaning 'curved' or 'bent.' In aviation it describes the curvature built into a wing. 'Maximum camber' simply marks the point where that built-in curve is deepest.
Why Pilots Care
The location and amount of maximum camber directly affect how much lift the wing produces at a given angle of attack and influence stall characteristics.
Intuition Check
Maximum camber does not mean the thickest part of the wing. It means the greatest curve of the wing’s middle line away from the straight chord line.
Example Sentence 1
On many training aircraft, the maximum camber sits about a third of the way back from the leading edge.
Example Sentence 2
Knowing the maximum camber helps a pilot understand why one wing shape performs better than another in slow flight.