What is an airfoil designed to do?

An airfoil is specifically designed to obtain a desirable reaction from the air in order to generate lift, which is essential for the flight of an aircraft. The shape of an airfoil, whether it's the wings of a plane or the blades of a rotor, creates a difference in air pressure between the upper and lower surfaces as it moves through the air. This difference in pressure results in lift, allowing the aircraft to ascend, descend, or maintain altitude. The design and angle of attack of the airfoil are critical factors that influence the amount of lift produced and the overall aerodynamic efficiency. This is why the correct understanding of airfoils revolves around their ability to interact effectively with airflow to achieve the desired aerodynamic effects.