Wings

Optimising aircraft performance through wing design

A340 Laminar Flow BLADE Demonstrator First Flight - In Flight

Reducing drag, fuel burn and emissions

AERODYNAMIC EFFICIENCY

A wing’s aerodynamic properties are central to aircraft efficiency. Airbus experts constantly examine new ideas and technologies that take their inspiration from nature, helping to further optimise wing design for the aircraft of tomorrow.

Our wing demonstrators

AlbatrossONE

The Airbus AlbatrossONE demonstrator puts semi-aeroelastic hinged wing-tips to the test. Discover how freely flapping wing-tips could improve aircraft performance.

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Airbus AlbatrossONE

Wing of Tomorrow

In July 2023, Airbus delivered its second 17m wing demonstrator that will help mature next generation wing technologies and manufacturing capabilities.

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Airbus Wing of Tomorrow

eXtra Performance Wing

This demonstrator is focused on accelerating and validating technologies that will improve and optimise wing aerodynamics and performance for future aircraft.

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 Extra performance Wing UpNext takes off for the first time
Airbus' Wing Technology Development Centre

Airbus’ Wing Technology Development Centre in Filton, UK

Airbus is investing further in its UK innovation capabilities with the opening of a new Wing Technology Development Centre at its Filton site in July 2023. The new facility will help Airbus accelerate the design, construction and testing of wings for next generation aircraft, using the latest technology and world-leading demonstrators to further improve performance.

Airbus' A350 Wingtip

Biomimicry

Biomimicry – or biologically inspired engineering – is the study and imitation of nature’s best-kept secrets to help solve human challenges. Today, nature is providing Airbus with invaluable insight on how to make aircraft lighter and more fuel efficient. One example of biomimicry in aerospace is winglets, the vertical wing-tip extensions that resemble a shark’s dorsal fin and which significantly reduce the size of the wingtip vortex, thus reducing induced drag. 

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