How do you go about designing an aircraft?

I'm prepared for this to be beyond my mental abilities, but I'd like to understand more about aircraft design and aerofoils.

I’ve noticed that there are different types of aerofoil, (I’m observant) but I don’t know why for example a HQW 1/8 mod aerofoil was chosen for the Begin’ Acro, and what that actually means. I came across XFLR5 software for aerofoil analysis but to start with I need the beginners guide to aerofoils and aerodynamics, but where to start? Is there a book? Or do I need to meditate upon it and seek answers in the Akashic records

Also are NACA areofoils referring to the NACA that became NASA?

Yours in much confusion, Gromit.

A bit of searching and I think I'm going to give this book a go:
Model Aircraft Aerodynamics

www.amazon.co.uk/Model-Aircraft-Aerodyna...JF9A06DVQ49WRXTAT2CZ

Chris - If you search under "Designing Model Aircraft" it comes up with many publications
Enough reading material to get you through a long hard winter, it's a vast subject & when
that own design takes to the air, most satisfying.

Colin

But that's part of the problem Colin, there is so much material both on the internet and in books, it's hard to determine what is a good starting point.

By the sound of your post you've designed and built your own model, what was it and how did it fly, any photos?

Martin Simons is a good place to start.
Another Martin worth looking at is Martin Hepperle www.mh-aerotools.de/airfoils/

MikeSeale wrote: Martin Simons is a good place to start.
Another Martin worth looking at is Martin Hepperle www.mh-aerotools.de/airfoils/

I have the Martin Simons book Chris and you are more than welcome to borrow it. Ps I was not impressed - although it refers to aerofoil design, reynolds number, and lots of other aerodynamic principles it fails to deliver as a practical guide of how to select any particular criteria for a given purpose.