Polar file formats

The easiest way to define a polar is to use the .polar file format. This is a single text file defining sets of polars with points for lift, drag and pitch moment as a function of angle of attack, at a fixed flap deflection. Here is an example, from a file called naca0012.polar, trimmed down for simplicity.

# Polar file for naca0012
# This is a comment
# This is another

# Polar with -20.0 degrees flap
set {
    deflection = -20.0
    p = [ -20.000 -1.2712 0.303250 0.2140 ]
    p = [ -15.000 -1.6465 0.097880 0.0669 ]
    :
    :
    p = [ -10.000 -1.7037 0.036230 0.0953 ]
    p = [ 13.000 0.5736 0.026330 0.1448 ]
    p = [ 16.000 0.9769 0.032570 0.1119 ]
    }

# Polar with 0.0 degrees flap
set {
    deflection = 0.0
    p = [ -2.000 -0.2144 0.005810 -0.0030 ]
    p = [ -1.000 -0.1075 0.005490 -0.0014 ]
    p = [ 0.000 0.0000 0.005400 0.0000 ]
    :
    :
    p = [ 6.000 0.6940 0.009730 -0.0041 ]
    p = [ 7.000 0.8267 0.010940 -0.0093 ]
    p = [ 8.000 0.9101 0.012100 -0.0040 ]
    }

# Polar with 20.0 degrees flap
set {
    deflection = 20.0
    p = [ -2.000 -0.2144 0.005810 -0.0030 ]
    p = [ -1.000 -0.1075 0.005490 -0.0014 ]
    p = [ 0.000 0.0000 0.005400 0.0000 ]
    :
    :
    p = [ 6.000 0.6940 0.009730 -0.0041 ]
    p = [ 7.000 0.8267 0.010940 -0.0093 ]
    p = [ 8.000 0.9101 0.012100 -0.0040 ]
    }