Originally Posted by Jeff Scott
What happens in reality is that the ground partially blocks the trailing vortices and decreases the amount of downwash generated by the wing. This reduction in downwash increases the effective angle of attack of the wing so that it creates more lift and less drag than it would otherwise. This phenomenon is what we call ground effect ...
The pressure distribution around the wing is not different from that it has out of ground effect at a somewhat greater angle of attack. IOW, no zones of 'trapped air'.
Last edited by HazelNuts39; 1st Dec 2012 at 21:15.
Reason: clarification