Average pressure on a wing

[sixpack]

OK, we all know that wings create lift because lower pressure on top.

So I was wondering... is the average pressure on a wing's surface greater or lesser than atmospheric pressure during flight?

 

[RiddlePilot]

Less. If you put an airfoil through a wind tunnel using the oil-filled pressure meter (I don't recall the actual name), the meter will show a noticable drop from atmospheric.

 

[sixpack]

How do they do that? Are there sensors distributed around the wing. I envision dozens of mini static port sensors taped to all edges of the wing.

 

[RiddlePilot]

Yep, that's exactly how they do it, at least in the one that I saw. Static sensors all over the wing.