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PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

During the lift off of an aeroplane the flaps of the wing are articulated to produce

optimum lift but minimum drag by altering the angle of attack as shown in figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1: Diagram showing flap (control surface) is articulation to


change the angle of attack

To increase drag the angle of attack of attack is increased but the trade of is that drag is increased

figure 2.2 shows the relationship between angle of attack with the lift and drag coefficient of a

typical air foil wing.

Figure 2.2: Showing the relationship between angle of attack with the lift
and drag coefficient.
As can be seen in figure 2.2 the drag coefficient increases exponentially as the lift coefficient

increases linearly then starts to fall above the critical attack angle. Therefore during the lift off

the desired angle of attack is chosen which produces the right amount of lift with the least

amount of drag. For a typical aircraft wing without winglets the shape of the wing and the

articulation of the flap produce a low pressure on the top of the wing and a high pressure on the

bottom of the wing. This pressure difference is able to produce lift which causes the aircraft to

leave the ground. However due to this uneven pressure the air is moved outwards from under the

wing from a high pressure then around the tip of the wings and over the upper surface (figure

2.3).

Figure 2.3 showing the drag forces induced on a wing without winglets

This movement of air around the wing tip produces a whirlwind called wingtip vortices which

increases the angle of attack due to down lash which in turns increases drag and increase lift.

During the flight of an aeroplane drag is only needed during landing to slow the speed of the

aircraft. However during cruising and lift off drag is not needed therefore aircraft designers seek
to reduce drag which in turns reduces fuel consumption, increases cruising range and more

payload. To reduce the drag produced by wingtip vertices designers use winglets. Winglets as

the name suggest is wing on wing. Unlike conventional aircraft wings that have a straight air foil

shape aircrafts with winglets on their wings are folded upward at an angle as indicated in figure

2.4.

Figure 2.4 showing an aircraft with a winglet on its wing

Winglets reduce wingtip vortices formed by the difference between the pressure on the upper

surface and lower surface of an airplane wing. The winglet prevents the air flowing to the upper

surface of the wing by directing the air up the surface of the winglet tip and curls around it.

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