HOW WINGLETS WORK? Winglets are vertical extensions attached to the wingtips of an aircraft. Their primary function is to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the airplane by reducing drag, which can significantly enhance fuel efficiency and increase the aircraft's cruising range. When an aircraft is in flight, pressure differences between the upper and lower surfaces of the wings create vortexes, or swirling air currents, at the wingtips. These vortices induce drag, which makes the aircraft wo

Winglets are typically added to aircraft to improve performance and efficiency, but they change the aerodynamic load on an airplane’s wing, requiring additional internal structural reinforcements. Tamarack Aerospace has developed an active winglet system that includes a wingtip extension and winglet, and an active load-alleviation system that counteracts gust and maneuver loads, negating the need for the typical structural reinforcement of the wing. | Aviation International News