In real world, there are thousands of different airfoils. SP offers a few of the basic ones. Symmetric airfoil provides minimal lift with minimal difference between low-speed and high-speed performance. It's good for fast planes, like jet fighters, and for horizontal stabilizers. Semi-symmetric provides a balance of lift and speed, being good for planes that go at subsonic speeds, but are not too slow. Flat bottom airfoil provides maximum lift. It's good for STOL aircraft and gliders.
lol
semi symmetrical - lift at 0 aoa, but more drag
flat - lotsa lift at 0 aoa but soooper inefficient. Easy to make IRL
symmetrical - aoa 2 lift
@MechWARRIOR57 in real life, terrible. On SP, everything is possible.
@EternalDarkness how is flat bottom for high speed?
In real world, there are thousands of different airfoils. SP offers a few of the basic ones. Symmetric airfoil provides minimal lift with minimal difference between low-speed and high-speed performance. It's good for fast planes, like jet fighters, and for horizontal stabilizers. Semi-symmetric provides a balance of lift and speed, being good for planes that go at subsonic speeds, but are not too slow. Flat bottom airfoil provides maximum lift. It's good for STOL aircraft and gliders.