Definition
The curved upper surface of an airfoil, measured as the curvature of the top of the wing from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The upper camber is typically more curved than the lower surface, and this asymmetry is one of the factors that produces lift as air flows over the wing.
Plain English
The shape of the top of the wing — specifically how curved it is from front to back. On most wings, the top is more rounded than the bottom, and that difference helps the wing produce lift.
Context Anchor
Seen in wing and airfoil diagrams when learning how the shape of a wing affects airflow and lift.
Derivation
Camber comes from the Old French 'cambre,' meaning 'arched' or 'bent,' which traces back to the Latin 'camur' (curved). 'Upper' simply specifies the top surface. So 'upper camber' literally means 'the arch of the top' — a useful image when picturing a wing's cross-section.
Why Pilots Care
The shape of the upper camber directly affects how a wing produces lift and how it behaves at different speeds and angles of attack. Understanding it helps pilots make sense of stall behavior, flap operation, and why wings are shaped the way they are.
Grounding Statement
Picture looking at a wing from the side: the upper camber is the rounded curve across the top.
Intuition Check
Do not read upper camber as the entire upper side of the wing. It means the curvature of that upper side.
Example Sentence 1
The upper camber of the wing is more curved than the lower surface, which contributes to lift production.
Example Sentence 2
A greater upper camber increases lift at lower airspeeds.