What Are the Curved Wingtips of Airliners?
When at an airport or while in flight, you may have noticed the curved wingtips of airliners that many aircraft feature. These curved wing tips are called aircraft winglets, and they serve a very important purpose for efficient and safe flight. There are also many styles of winglets that may be featured on a variety of aircraft models. In this blog, we will discuss what winglets are and their benefits to flight.
In regards to flight, lift is what brings an aircraft into the air and sustains it during flight. To create lift, there needs to be a difference in pressure above and below an aircraft wing. Below the wing, high pressure builds up as it moves towards the end of the wing. When it reaches the tip, it comes into contact with low pressure and results in a vortex. Vortices created by the meeting of pressures are swirling tornados of turbulence that begin to trail behind the aircraft.
While this may not seem like a problem, vortices can actually affect the aircraft, and others following behind. Vortices create drag, causing the aircraft to have to work harder to maintain the same speed, thus losing efficiency and expending more fuel. Nearby aircraft that are smaller or lighter than the leading aircraft can also get caught up in the vortices when following too closely behind, and these trailing vortices can be dangerous. Because of this, winglets are used to reduce drag and mitigate vortices.
While winglets seem like an easy solution to the problem, their design can be complex in order to maintain efficient airflow. The most optimal solution for reducing drag is to simply expand wing length, but this can create problems with space for hangers and gates, as well as increase weight. When designing winglets, it is important to be mindful of their angle, as 90 degree angles can cause turbulence to form in corners. With an optimal winglet, drag can be combated and forward lift is achieved. As winglets improve efficiency of flight, reduce drag, and are small additions as compared to wing expansion, they are a popular solution for mitigating vortices.
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