• Question: why are aeroplane wings straight?

    Asked by Jason_Bourne05 to Andres on 9 Mar 2017.
    • Photo: Andres Rivero

      Andres Rivero answered on 9 Mar 2017:

      Hi Jason_Bourne05,

      Airplane wings are straight because they need to keep an aerodynamic shape so lift can be generated. You may be wondering why can birds curve their wings, and that is because birds generate thrust in a different way: by moving their wings. Airplanes generate thrust by using the engines. Next time you see a bird flying in a straight line (without flapping their wings), see how they try keep their wings as straight as possible so they can maximise the amount they spend without flapping their wings (as this consumes more energy and birds get tired!)

      Andres

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