Which feature of an airfoil determines its thickness and lift capability?

The camber of an airfoil is a critical factor that influences both its thickness and lift capability. Camber refers to the curvature of the airfoil's upper and lower surfaces. When an airfoil has a significant amount of camber, it alters how air flows over and under it. This design creates differences in pressure, leading to an increase in lift as the airfoil moves through the air.

A cambered airfoil typically has a greater capacity to generate lift compared to a flat airfoil at a given angle of attack and speed. The thickness of the airfoil generally affects its structural integrity and drag characteristics, but it is the camber that primarily influences the lift generation capability.

Other features, such as the angle of attack and chord line, play important roles in the overall aerodynamic performance of the airfoil, but they do not directly determine its thickness or inherent lift characteristics like camber does. The surface area of the wing can affect the total lift produced, but it is still the camber's shape and design that dictate how efficiently an airfoil can produce lift at different angles and speeds.