What I am looking for is websites and articles, not 3 page long explanations here- although they are welcomed if someone is feeling up to explaining what I am about to ask right here on this forum. That would be very much appreciated. I just bought a 120 dollar book and I am NOT buying new books on aerodynamics anytime soon because before I plow through 1000 pages of solid calculus and trigonometry... well that won't happen soon for sure.

My question is, how can you predict the pattern of airflow over an airfoil or a ramp. How can you rpedict where the boundary layer will detach itself from the airfoil surface? Is there a formula or a function which will allow me to know how far along from the leading edge will the boundary layer go turbulent over my wing?

Next question. Say that I have some big block sticking out of the side of my airplane. I want that block to remain there but I don't want the air to encounter it face to face. So, I put a ramp or some smooth surface in front of that block so that the air flows around it without particularly meeting the block face to face. I want to know how big or steep that ramp should be so that the air just flows past the block- not too far away, not to close to it.

These are all jsut concepts and I don't have an airplane with a block sticking out of it, so please dont tell me that a picture would help. Thanks .

I appreciate answers and links very much, thanks guys.

Lafayette.