Are wings supposed to bend like this? #aviationgeek #aviationlovers #aviationdaily #airplane

Why is this wing bending like this? Actually, this isn’t a design flaw, but instead excellent engineering. Let me explain.

I’m Ethan, an incoming Aerospace Engineer at the University of Illinois.
So, aircraft wings are designed with flexibility in mind allowing them to bend like a spring in turbulence. This “wing flex” distributes and dampens forces to the wing’s joints and connections to the fuselage.

If the wings were rigid, the forces from turbulence can snap the wing if strong enough, since the forces aren’t absorbed or distributed. In addition, it would be a much bumpier ride, since the wings kind of act as shock absorbers.

Modern planes like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 are largely made of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer, which is not only strong but has a strong fatigue resistance, allowing it to withstand greater stress.

Of course, the wings are heavily tested. The 787 Dreamliner’s wings can flex up to 26 feet, or 150% the maximum strain it would face in operation.

Did you know this about airplane wings? Let me know in the comments.

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