Aeronautical engineering terms

[Mtntop]

Since I was a kid I"ve designed everything from a combination of TLAR, already proven designs and some very basic sizing ratios which has served me well....til now.

I've embarked on a design that has me questioning and wanting to know the real aerodynamic grit of whats going on and how to make it better for X.
The problem...I need somewhere I can go to to understand what Cl, cd and such is and what that means to me and my project. Also don't remember a thing about algebra...or did I ever?..

I'm also trying to get my head around XFLR5 at the same time for this project which is a bit difficult to say the least when you don't understand what these things stand for.

Thanks in advance and hope its not too much to ask.
Dave...Information monger.

[HerkS]

Mtntop

First of all, you probably won't get much systematic info here.

Martin Simons Book "Model Aircraft Aerodynamics" is really sound aero and also very understandable
http://www.amazon.com/Model-Aircraft-Aerodynamics-Martin-Simons/dp/1854861905

Another very good source for full scale aero info that's also understandable and readable is "Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators."
http://www.amazon.com/Aerodynamics-Naval-Aviators-FAA-Handbooks/dp/156027140X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240179340&sr=1-1
It has a lot of supersonic stuff in it, but if you skip over that, the basic aero. is correct, readable and understandable.

[Bartleby]

I need somewhere I can go to to understand what Cl, cd and such is and what that means to me and my project.

A good place to start: http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/short.html

Regards

[Mtntop]

Thanks to the both of you for helping me get started down the road to "Asking questions I really didn't want the answers to when I began, I coulda done without this!!":)