Wings

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

Wing of Tomorrow

Airbus will design, build, and flight test wing extensions for next generation single aisle aircraft to evaluate how different wing geometries perform in real-world flight conditions.

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

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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Wing of Tomorrow

Airbus has started the next phase of its Wing of Tomorrow programme to evaluate the performance of high-span wings for next-generation single-aisle aircraft.

Over the next three years, Airbus will design, build and flight test full scale wing extensions that will be installed on an A321neo aircraft and used to evaluate how the different wing geometries perform in real flight conditions.

Designed to replicate a folding wing in the fully extended position during flight, this demonstrator will allow the safe challenging of traditional design limits and explore the benefits of longer wings for efficiency.

Airbus' Wing Technology Development Centre

Airbus’ Wing Technology Development Centre in Filton, UK

Airbus’ Wing Technology Development Centre in Filton, UK, is helping to accelerate the design, construction and testing of next generation wings, using the latest technology to further improve performance.

Airbus has built three 17 metre ground based demonstrators that are being used to explore new manufacturing and assembly technologies, leveraging industry partners and the very best digital tools. The facility is supporting the Wing of Tomorrow programme that is all about preparing people, technology, the industrial system, supply chain and digital and physical capabilities for next generation aircraft.

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.