Any finite length wing produces wingtip vortices–potentially intense regions of rotational flow downstream of the wing’s ends. These vortices are associated both with the production of lift on the wing Keep reading
Tag: induced drag
Ground Effect Vehicles
Ground effect vehicles (a.k.a. wing-in-ground-effect vehicles) rely on their proximity to a flat surface to inhibit the wingtip vortices that create lift-induced drag. This effectively increases the lifting capabilities of Keep reading
Discovery Wingtip Vortices
Wingtip vortices mark the path of Discovery as she makes her final landing. Though not always visible, these vortices are generated by any lifting body planform and can be a Keep reading