[kach22i]

January 2, 2024
Airbus Is Testing Planes With Flapping Wings to Help Reduce Carbon Emissions
https://robbreport.com/motors/aviati...cy-1235460915/

Headed up by industry veteran Sue Partridge, the Wing of Tomorrow program has determined that future wings need to be 25 percent longer than at present. The wingspan of the A320 family of narrow-body, short-haul jets, for instance, will increase from 118 to 148 feet (feet (36 to 45 meters). The wings will also be made of composite materials that are lighter than the aluminum alloy Airbus has used for the past 40 years.....

In addition, Airbus will test out some new “flapping wings” in Bordeaux, France. Christened the eXtra Performance Wing, the design is rooted in biomimicry (biologically inspired engineering) and changes shape and form during flight to maximize its aerodynamic efficiency. How? Gust sensors on the front of the aircraft register any changes in turbulence and then the system automatically makes relevant adjustments to the control surfaces of the wing to improve airflow.

08 November 2023
https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/s...ator-takes-off

..........“The eXtra Performance Wing technologies, which change the shape of the wing by mimicking a bird's feathers, will adjust automatically to maximise aerodynamic flow.”

There are also the hinged wingtips, which have a dual purpose. On the ground they prevent the aircraft from exceeding the maximum wingspan length that can be accommodated at airport gates (36 metres), and in the air they are flexible, able to change shape to avoid putting too much pressure on the wing. The wingtips also allow for a longer span to be achieved, increasing lift and reducing drag.