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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.
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
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.
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.