A useful function: why airplane wings have curves at the tips

Travelers who have had a chance to look at airplane wings through the window or during landing may have noticed that they have curves at the ends. This part is called "winglets" and performs special functions.

The upside-down tips at the end of an airplane wing have been the standard for large commercial aircraft for many years, WA Today writes. The "blended winglet" technology was invented and patented in the 1990s by Louis Gratzer, chief aerodynamic officer at Aviation Partners.

Winglets are used to increase the effective wingspan by reducing inductive drag from the vortex, which increases lift at the wingtip.

These useful curves increase the range of the aircraft and reduce fuel consumption by as much as five percent, which is a big plus for the airline.

Among the aircraft that are or have been in production, winglets are used on the A-7 gyroplane, Su-80, An-158, Tu-204/214, Tu-334, and Il-96.