The primary purpose of attaching wingtips to a plane is to cut down on operating costs. Wingtips reduce vortex drag caused by the convergence of high-pressure and low-pressure air at the tip of its wings. As vortices form at the wing’s edge, they create a drag force that significantly slows the aircraft down. This drag can force a plane to burn a lot more fuel than it needs, while an aircraft’s operating range is also shortened as a result. //

Winglets come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the aircraft. The Airbus A350 uses a blended winglet design, much like the manufacturer’s ‘sharklets’ fitted to the A320. The design involves an upward curve at the tip of the wing, creating a smoother curve than an angular design. According to Aviation Partners, one of the founders of the technology, the design,

“… has a large radius and is designed with a smooth chord variation in the transition area where the wing joins the winglet. This allows optimum aerodynamic loading and avoids vortex concentrations that produce drag.” //

Curved wingtips can offer a higher level of wing flex, allowing it to adapt to changing air pressure levels. According to Boeing, the curved wings on the 787 “automatically adjust upward and downward to continually optimize the camber for maximum efficiency.”