For a number of direct calculation methods for the prediction of flows around wings at subsonic speed, the basic assumptions are discxissed. This forms the basis of the demonstration of the applicability of the methods. Comparison of calculated pressvire distributions with results from windtunnel tests serve to illustrate this for three-dimensional wings and for the limiting case of plane flows around aerofoils. Attention is paid to the use of inverse methods. In this context the use of hodograph methods for the design of aerofoils with transonic shockfree flow is discussed.