Ask an Explainer
I saw the construction of the Airbus A380 on the National Geographic channel. I saw their wing. It consists of a small wing on the end of the wing. This innovation was taken from the eagle's flying phenomena. Why it is necessary?
At the tip of each wing on an Airbus A380 is a much smaller “vertical wing” called a wingtip fence. This wingtip fence has many jobs: it helps increase lift, reduces drag, and even cuts down on fuel consumption and sound pollution! There are also similar devices known as winglets. Airplanes have been using different types of wingtip devices for over 100 years.
Vertical wingtips cut down on drag. Usually, flying planes create spiral air currents on the edge of each wing called wingtip vortices. Winglets redirect the air that slips by the edge of the wing, preventing these spiral currents from slowing the plane down as much. Reduced drag means better fuel economy and a longer range.
Because the winglet cuts down on pressure drag and increases lift, it has become a popular fixture on Airbus and Boeing planes.
