Aviation downwash

The effective angle of attack of the wing is decreased by the flow induced by the downwash, giving an additional, downstream-facing, component to the aerodynamic force acting over the entire wing

The downstream component of the force is called induced drag because it faces downstream and has been “induced” by the action of the tip vortices

What is downwash? Downwash is the air that is deflected by flowing around an airfoil

This airfoil can be the wing of a plane, the rotor of a helicoptor or a propeller on a plane

In aeronautics, downwash is the change in direction of air deflected by the aerodynamic action of an airfoil, wing or helicopter rotor blade in motion, as part of the process of producing lift