Why do plane wings flex so much?

Airlines don't want rigid wings that can hold their shape in the worst turbulence. This is because a flexing wing acts as a spring and reduces the sensation of turbulence for passengers. Looking it in a different way: by flexing, the wing is absorbing a part of the turbulence that you are not feeling.



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Flutter is a kind of self-excited vibration phenomenon caused by the mutual coupling of the inertial force, elastic force and aerodynamic pressure when the structure is exposed to airflow. When the flight speed of the aircraft is low, the vibration is gradually attenuated after being disturbed.

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Short answer: Because planes are larger than birds. Flying by flapping their wings works very well for birds and insects. Machines that fly this way, known as ornithopters, have been built, some large enough to carry a man. But larger than that and the laws of physics become a serious problem.

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The wings of the Boeing 787 are so flexible because its carbon fiber material can be stretched more, and the high aspect ratio of 11 will magnify this effect. In flight, all you will feel is less shaking due to gusts, because the wing will dampen load changes more effectively.

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From a practical point, no, a modern airliner will not lose a wing due to turbulence. Modern airlines are very tough and designed to withstand extreme turbulence. In theory, it might be possible. But to my knowledge, it has not happened to any jet airliner.

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The video shows a KLM Boeing 747 jet's wings jiggling with turbulence. The caption reads: Airplane wings aren't some rigid chunks of metal: in fact, they probably have a bit more flex than you'd expect. This is the behavior of a Boeing 747's wing in a turbulence. It can move 6m up and down safely.

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The best seat on the plane to avoid turbulence is either over the wings or towards the front of the aircraft. The wings of the plane keep it balanced and smooth, whereas the tail of the aircraft can bounce up and down more. The closer a passenger is to the front of the plane the less turbulence they would usually feel.

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Often, the purpose of lift redistribution is to ensure that the wing tip is the last part of the wing surface to stall, for example when executing a roll or steep climb; it involves twisting the wingtip a small amount downwards in relation to the rest of the wing.

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Flight turbulence has increased as climate change has warmed the planet, researchers say. Scientists at Reading University in the UK studied clear-air turbulence, which is harder for pilots to avoid. They found that severe turbulence had increased 55% between 1979 and 2020 on a typically busy North Atlantic route.

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Four or more hours on a plane can cause fluid and electrolyte imbalances, leading to a small increase in your weight, says Jampolis. If you do plan on weighing yourself after a flight (for some odd reason), drink lots of water while you're in the air and avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can dehydrate you further.

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