Bald Eagle

EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT WINGTIPS


REDUCED TURBULENCE AT WINGTIP
REDUCED TURBULENCE AT WINGTIP
TURBULENCE WITH AND WITHOUT WINGLETS
TURBULENCE WITH AND WITHOUT WINGLETS

Bald eagles are giant birds, whose long, broad wings are well adapted to soaring and gliding. In flight, the feathers of their wingtips curve slightly upward until they are almost vertical, increasing the effectiveness of the eagle’s flight in three ways: reducing turbulence, increasing lift, the force that enables the raptor to rise into the air, and reducing drag, the force that opposes the bird’s movement forward.

The same principle is used on many airplanes by adding winglets (small, vertical airfoils, or wings) at the wingtip.

Like the eagle, an airplane in flight produces whirling air, or turbulence, at the end of its wings, causing resistance to the aircraft’s forward movement and creating turbulence behind it. Winglets reduce this turbulence, increase lift and reduce drag, offering many advantages like fuel savings, greater autonomy, the capacity to carry heavier loads, etc.


For more information on the animal:
Bald Eagle Identification

For more information on the technology:
When birds inspire the shape of planes’ wings

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