#wingtip vortices

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

Quietening Drones

A drone's noisiness is one of its major downfalls. Standard drones are obnoxiously loud and disruptive for both humans and animals, one reason that they're not allowed in many places. This flow visualization, courtesy of the Slow Mo Guys, helps show why.  (Image credit: The Slow Mo Guys) Read the full article

[nocternalrandomness]

"Vortices"

[usafphantom2]

A demonstration of wingtip vortices.

@ron_eisele via X

[ranticore]

reading your pern fic (OBSESSED btw) and you seem to have a really good grasp on flight / flight dynamics & the physics of it. and it's incredibly hard to find a resource for more realistic dragonriding - would you mind sharing some of your knowledge, terminology, that sort of thing? i guess this is me asking you to infodump about dragon flight/riding to your heart's content lol

>:) I waited until I was on pc to answer this one

Background information about me is that I've a long history with horse riding, a love for birds, and a special interest in.... aviation (in case that wasn't obvious)

to write a dragon riding scene I kind of synthesise all of these elements - to know what it's like to work alongside a steed (balance, cooperation), to know what it's like for a bird to fly (responding to the shape of the air) and also to know basically how flight at speed affects people (g-forces, air pressure, hypoxia) as well as essential flight mechanics (the basic 'how do wings work' thing)

So for a wing to work, the air must be flowing over its surface at a speed which creates a pressure difference which then causes lift. That's very simplified but u get it - the low pressure that develops on top of a wing kinda sucks the wing upwards. That means that in flight, you have a minimum speed where lift can persist. Dropping below that speed will cause a stall (lift stops) because that pressure difference won't exist. When you climb, you lose speed, which means at a certain critical point, the wings stall. Diving back down again will increase speed, increase lift, and then you'll go up again. I recommend looking up some videos or something because i'm not the best at explaining it haha

The air itself is also important to consider and i think it's the key of what brings it all together. Air is always spinning around the margins of a wing. It's why I always use descriptions like "whirling" and "churning" and stuff like that, it's to evoke the spirally vortex that generates in the wake of a flying object. You can see the vortexes sometimes when the low pressure over a wing changes the dew point in the air, causing condensation to form:

this "tube" of air is a rapidly spinning vortex which forms when lift is happening - it's always there, but only this condensation makes it visible. next time you're on a plane coming in to land, watch and see if you can spot one, and notice that the moment the spoilers come up on the wing, the vortex stops, because lift is no longer being generated. The wingtip vortices cause drag which is why many planes have devices at the wingtips that point up, it reduces the vortices and saves on fuel!

Big wings make bigger vortices and this is what causes wake turbulence.

you can see here really clearly the shape of the air in the wake of the plane, two big churning vortices that grow and spread out with distance until they're negligible. But flying directly into these vortices will cause a smaller aircraft (or dragon) to experience that turbulence, think of it like the wake of a large boat causing waves that might capsize a kayak. Turbulence, wind shear, etc these are all fluid dynamics in the air. Something that bores me in flight scenes (and sooo many flight scenes are guilty of this) is "dead" air, air which doesn't exist as anything other than an empty medium for something to basically levitate weightlessly through. It takes power and effort.

Back to birds - unlike planes, birds have a great degree of flexibility over how they approach the air, but their wing mechanics are convergent. Birds also extend high-lift devices to fly slowly without stalling (their alula). They can catch and exploit many of the wind forms which would throw a plane of similar size out of the sky. Thermals are an obvious one to write about, these are columns of rising air that form over a warm surface. Soaring birds use high-lift devices on their wings (the slotted primary feathers) to catch the thermal and ride it without having to flap at all. This is how the bronzes work.

Queen dragons in my story fly at the bottom of the column when in battle, really close to the ground - they actually exploit the ground effect to fly that low. Within one wingspan of the ground, the high pressure zone that forms under the wings acts as a cushion, because there's nothing under it but solid ground. This means lift can be maintained in conditions where normally it would not work - low in the air, the air pressure is dense and drag is a major factor.

Air pressure is another thing to consider but that's relatively intuitive. More pressure, more drag, slower flight, more energetically-costly flight, etc. The ceiling for 'breathable' air is about 10,000 feet. Now we have to think about the rider - have you ever stuck your head out of a car window at high speed and tried to breathe? If you've ever cornered fast on a bike you'll know how it feels to bank, more or less. Your weight increases the more Gs you pull, because gravity is intensifying for you. For the physical effects on the riders I looked into fighter pilots, stuff like G-lock, what kinds of forces someone can withstand before their body starts hurting lol.

in short: flight is a complicated battle against gravity and the air is alive

[captain-price-unofficially]

Polish Air Force MiG-29s with some nice wingtip vortices.

[sadiqueone]

Gentle reminder, you were there and always will be.

The journey is comprised of what could be a million tiny steps, if we forget, we look back on our footsteps. As we progress the evidence might only leave a fleeting reveal in our wingtip vortices.

And we grow closer.

Immersed in the now, the only realisation to succumb as we phase shift from past, through present futures. The investments of soul materialism, formation of that which is connected, entanglement often forgives, but it seldom forgets our origins.

As we proceed, we procure more than we know. Adding to the foray, determined might be the only absolution to that which we become. Absent of awareness the other side of the spectrum is engulfing. What then of our detriment?

Some things cannot be bent, broken, changed or gone against. We might seek and try though. And life reminds us full circle. A people without knowledge of their history, are doomed to repeat it.

@sadiQ1

[pilottrainingeducation]

Understanding Wake Turbulence and Its Effects

Understanding Wake Turbulence and Its Effects

Wake turbulence is a critical topic in aviation that every student pilot must understand thoroughly. It refers to the disturbed air left behind an aircraft, particularly from the wingtip vortices of heavier aircraft. If not managed properly, wake turbulence can pose significant risks, especially during takeoff and landing phases when aircraft are closer together.

How Pilots Are Trained to Handle Wake Turbulence

In Flying training in India, students are taught the causes and characteristics of wake turbulence. Instructors explain how larger aircraft generate stronger vortices, and how environmental factors like wind and temperature can influence their dissipation. Pilots learn to identify warning signs and adjust their approach paths, spacing, and timing when operating near heavier traffic.

Simulated sessions further help students visualize how wake turbulence forms and dissipates. This training develops situational awareness and improves pilot response in real-time scenarios.

Real-World Implications and Pilot Responsibility

Wake turbulence incidents, although rare, have resulted in accidents when proper separation was not maintained. In Flying training in India, flight students are trained to always adhere to Air Traffic Control (ATC) separation guidelines and maintain visual and spatial awareness when flying behind or near larger aircraft.

Learning how to mitigate wake turbulence risk is not just about avoiding rough air—it’s about understanding physics, airflow, and maintaining safety protocols with discipline.

Conclusion

Wake turbulence may be invisible, but its effects can be dangerous if underestimated. Pilot training that emphasizes this topic prepares students for a critical aspect of flight safety. Through the thorough approach of Flying training in India, student pilots gain both the knowledge and the confidence to make sound decisions around this phenomenon—ensuring safer skies for all.

[goldenepaulettesaviationpilot]

✈️ Turbulence : Know Your Bumps in the Sky!

Turbulence isn't just one thing — it comes in many forms, each with its own cause and effect. From wingtip vortices to mountain waves and thunderstorms, understanding these types can help you stay informed and confident in the skies. 🌤️🌪️

🛫 Here's a quick guide to 7 types of turbulence every aviator and frequent flyer should know:

✅ Wake Turbulence

✅ Clear Air Turbulence

✅ Thermal Turbulence

✅ Frontal Turbulence

✅ Mechanical Turbulence

✅ Mountain Wave Turbulence

✅ Thunderstorm Turbulence

Fly smart. Fly safe. 🌍✈️

📚 Your route to the cockpit starts with knowledge!

#AviationDaily #PilotLife #TurbulenceExplained #AvGeek #FuturePilot #AviationLovers #LearnToFly #FlightTraining #PilotJourney #AirplaneMode #CockpitView #FlyingHigh #FlightSchool #AviationKnowledge #StayInformedFlySafe

[aircraftcarrier4]

Advancements and Innovations in Modern Passenger Aircraft: Safety, Efficiency, and Comfort

Passengers Aircraft: Evolution and Modern Innovations

Passenger aircraft have revolutionized global travel, connecting continents and cultures with unprecedented speed and efficiency. From the early days of aviation, when airplanes were small and rudimentary, to today's sophisticated jets capable of carrying hundreds of passengers, the evolution of passenger aircraft is a testament to human ingenuity and technological advancement.

The development of passenger aircraft began in earnest in the early 20th century. The introduction of the Boeing 707 in the late 1950s marked a significant milestone, bringing jet travel to the masses with its speed and comfort. This era of jet aviation was characterized by rapid advancements in aerodynamics, materials, and engine technology. The subsequent decades saw the introduction of wide-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 747, which became an icon of international travel with its distinctive hump and enormous capacity.

Modern passenger aircraft, like the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, are marvels of engineering. These aircraft incorporate advanced materials, such as carbon-fiber composites, which reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency. Engine technology has also seen significant advancements, with newer engines providing more thrust while consuming less fuel and producing fewer emissions. Innovations in aerodynamics, such as winglets and raked wingtips, further enhance fuel efficiency by reducing drag.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): Ensuring Global Aviation Safety and Efficiency

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) plays a crucial role in the global aviation industry. Established in 1944 as a specialized agency of the United Nations, ICAO's primary objective is to ensure the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation. The organization sets international standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, and environmental protection.

ICAO's work is vital in creating a cohesive and standardized aviation industry. One of its key functions is the development and maintenance of the International Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). These SARPs cover all aspects of aviation, including aircraft operations, air traffic management, safety oversight, and environmental protection. By adhering to these standards, member states can ensure a high level of safety and efficiency in their aviation operations.

Moreover, ICAO facilitates international cooperation and dialogue among its 193 member states. Through various panels, committees, and working groups, ICAO addresses emerging challenges and technological advancements in aviation. This collaborative approach ensures that the global aviation industry can adapt to new developments and maintain a high standard of safety and efficiency.

Wingtips and Their Role in Aerodynamics

Wingtips and Their Role in Aerodynamics, the outermost parts of an aircraft's wings, play a significant role in improving aerodynamic efficiency and reducing fuel consumption. Traditional wingtips, which end abruptly, cause vortices to form at the wingtips, leading to increased drag and fuel consumption. To mitigate this, engineers have developed various wingtip designs aimed at reducing drag and improving overall performance.

One of the most common and effective wingtip designs is the winglet. Winglets are vertical or angled extensions at the wingtips that reduce the strength of the vortices, thereby decreasing drag. By improving the aerodynamics of the wing, winglets contribute to significant fuel savings and increased range. The use of winglets has become standard practice in modern aircraft design, with variations such as blended winglets, split-scimitar winglets, and raked wingtips being employed to optimize performance further.

Raked wingtips are another innovation aimed at enhancing aerodynamic efficiency. These wingtips are swept back and slightly upward, reducing drag and improving lift-to-drag ratio. Raked wingtips are commonly found on long-haul aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, where fuel efficiency is paramount.

Landing Gear: Engineering for Safety and Performance

The landing gear is a critical component of an aircraft, responsible for supporting the aircraft during takeoff, landing, and taxiing. The design and engineering of landing gear systems are complex, requiring a balance between strength, weight, and reliability.

Landing gear systems can be broadly categorized into two types: fixed and retractable. Fixed landing gear is simpler and lighter, but it creates more drag, making it suitable primarily for smaller, slower aircraft. In contrast, retractable landing gear can be retracted into the aircraft during flight, reducing drag and improving aerodynamic efficiency. Retractable landing gear is standard on most commercial and military aircraft.

The landing gear comprises several key components, including the struts, wheels, brakes, and steering mechanisms. The struts absorb the impact forces during landing, ensuring a smooth touchdown. Modern landing gear systems often feature advanced materials, such as high-strength alloys and composites, to provide the necessary strength while minimizing weight.

Braking systems are crucial for safely stopping the aircraft after landing. Most commercial aircraft use multi-disc brakes, which provide the necessary stopping power. In addition, advanced braking technologies, such as carbon brakes and electrically actuated brakes, are increasingly being used to improve performance and reduce weight.

Aeroplane Lighting: Enhancing Safety and Visibility

Aeroplane lighting plays a vital role in ensuring safety and visibility during all phases of flight. Aircraft are equipped with various lighting systems, each serving a specific purpose and adhering to strict regulatory standards.

Navigation lights, also known as position lights, are used to indicate the aircraft's position and orientation to other pilots and air traffic controllers. These lights typically include red lights on the left wingtip, green lights on the right wingtip, and white lights on the tail. This standard configuration helps prevent collisions by allowing pilots to determine the relative direction and movement of other aircraft.

Landing lights are powerful lights mounted on the wings or fuselage, used to illuminate the runway during takeoff and landing. These lights enhance visibility for the pilots, ensuring a safe approach and touchdown. Taxi lights, on the other hand, are used to illuminate the taxiways and ramps, helping pilots navigate the airport environment during ground operations.

Strobe lights are high-intensity flashing lights located on the wingtips and tail. These lights improve the aircraft's visibility to other pilots, especially during takeoff, landing, and in-flight operations. Anti-collision lights, typically red beacons on the top and bottom of the fuselage, serve a similar purpose by making the aircraft more conspicuous.

Interior lighting is also critical for passenger comfort and safety. Modern aircraft feature advanced lighting systems that can adjust in color and intensity, creating a pleasant cabin environment. Emergency lighting systems, including exit signs and floor path lighting, are designed to guide passengers to safety in the event of an emergency.

In conclusion, the evolution of passenger aircraft, the regulatory framework established by ICAO, and innovations in wingtip design, landing gear, and aeroplane lighting have all contributed to making air travel safer, more efficient, and more comfortable. These advancements reflect the continuous efforts of engineers, regulators, and the aviation industry to meet the growing demands of global travel while prioritizing safety and sustainability.

[aviationschool]

🌪️ Wake turbulence ✈️Disturbance caused by vortices at an aircraft's wingtips ✈️Swirling currents of air can persist after the aircraft passes ✈️Significant concern during takeoff and landing ✈️Can disrupt flight path of following aircraft ✈️Poses safety risk ✈️Air traffic controllers maintain safe separation distances ✈️Pilots receive training to anticipate and avoid encounters ✈️Severity depends on aircraft size, weight, and atmospheric conditions ✈️Invisible forces shaping the skies! ✨ #waketurbulence #aviation #avelflightschool

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

Visualizing Wingtip Vortices

At the ends of an airplane's wings, the pressure difference between air on top of the wing and air below it creates a swirling vortex that extends behind the aircraft. In this video, researchers recreate this wingtip vortex in a wind tunnel, visualized with laser-illuminated smoke.  (Video and image credit: M. Couliou et al.) Read the full article

[jcmarchi]

Explaining a Supernova’s ‘String of Pearls’ - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/explaining-a-supernovas-string-of-pearls-technology-org/

Explaining a Supernova’s ‘String of Pearls’ - Technology Org

Physicists often use the Rayleigh-Taylor instability to explain why fluid structures form in plasmas, but research from the University of Michigan suggests that that may not be the full story about the ring of hydrogen clumps around supernova 1987A.

The simulation shows the shape of the gas cloud on the left and the vortices, or regions of rapidly rotating flow, on the right. Each ring represents a later time in the evolution of the cloud. It shows how a gas cloud that starts as an even ring with no rotation becomes a lumpy ring as the vortices develop. Eventually, the gas breaks up into distinct clumps. Image Credit: Michael Wadas, Scientific Computing and Flow Laboratory

In a study published in Physical Review Letters, the team argues that the Crow instability better explains the “string of pearls” encircling the remnant of the star, shedding light on a longstanding astrophysical mystery.

“The fascinating part about this is that the same mechanism that breaks up airplane wakes could be in play here,” said Michael Wadas, the study’s corresponding author and a graduate student in mechanical engineering at the time of the work.

In jet contrails, the Crow instability creates breaks in the smooth line of clouds because of the spiraling airflow coming off the end of each wing, known as wingtip vortices. These vortices flow into one another, creating gaps—something we can see because of the water vapor in the exhaust. And the Crow instability can do something that Rayleigh-Taylor could not: predict the number of clumps seen around the remnant.

“The Rayleigh-Taylor instability could tell you that there might be clumps, but it would be very difficult to determine their number,” said Wadas, who is now a postdoctoral scholar at the California Institute of Technology.

Supernova 1987A is among the most famous stellar explosions because it’s relatively close to Earth at 163,000 light years away, and its light reached Earth at a time when sophisticated observatories existed to witness its evolution. It is the first supernova visible to the naked eye since Kepler’s supernova in 1604, making it an incredibly rare astrophysical event that has played an outsized role in shaping our understanding of stellar evolution.

A near-infrared image of the remnant left behind by supernova 1987A, taken by the James Webb Space Telescope. The hydrogen clumps known as the “string of pearls” appear as a ring of white dots around the teal center of the stellar remnant, still shining brightly due to the energy imparted by the supernova shockwave. The number of clumps is consistent with the Crow instability having caused them to form. Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, M. Matsuura (Cardiff University), R. Arendt (NASA’s Goddard Spaceflight Center & University of Maryland, Baltimore County), C. Fransson (Stockholm University), J. Larsson (KTH Royal Institute of Technology), A. Pagan (STScI)

While much is still unknown about the star that exploded, it is believed that the ring of gas surrounding the star ahead of the explosion came from the merger of two stars. Those stars shed hydrogen into the space around them as they became a blue giant tens of thousands of years before the supernova. That ring-shaped cloud of gas was then buffeted by the stream of high-speed charged particles coming off the blue giant, known as a stellar wind. The clumps are believed to have formed before the star exploded.

The researchers simulated the way the wind pushed the cloud outward while also dragging on the surface, with the top and bottom of the cloud being pushed out faster than the middle. This caused the cloud to curl in on itself, which triggered the Crow instability and caused it to break apart into fairly even clumps that became the string of pearls. The prediction of 32 is very close to the observed 30 to 40 clumps around the supernova 1987A remnant.

“That’s a big piece of why we think this is the Crow instability,” said Eric Johnsen, U-M professor of mechanical engineering and senior author of the study.

The team saw hints that the Crow instability might predict the formation of more beaded rings around the star, further out from the ring that appears brightest in telescope images. They were pleased to see that more clumps seem to appear in the shot from the James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared camera, released in August last year, Wadas explained.

The team also suggested that the Crow instability might be at play when the dust around a star settles into planets, although further research is needed to explore this possibility.

Source: University of Michigan

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[usafphantom2]

Demonstration of wingtip vortices.

@ron_eisele via X

[firebirdtransam68]

Cool Color Flight

The Cloudy Daytime Sky is made with DA Muro, the contrails and extra details with Adobe Photoshop, and the blue and purple Fighter Jet with Microsoft PowerPoint. When I saw images of fighter jets flying in the sky, I noticed the wingtips let out what looks like smoke (but it is really vortices), so I thought I would add the vortices to make the picture a little more realistic.  How fast do you think the blue and purple Fighter Jet is going? This jet plane would blend well in the blue sky (minus the clouds, of course), in my opinion; maybe...

[todomeaburre]

[x]

[aerospace-anant]

The coolest commercial jet in the world??!!

INTRODUCTION

The days of the a380 and the humped 747 are gone and the 787 dreamliner is at the forefront of this revolution making it my favourite commercial airliner.

MATERIAL

About 50 percent of it is made of carbon fiber composite making it the first commercial jet in the world to be made up primarily of this material.

Composites are composed of 2 or more materials. Carbon reinforced plastics are composed of extremely strong carbon fibres bound together by plastic.

Carbon fibre is very strong and very light. It is 5 times stronger than steel and twice as stiff. Since they are very thin strands, thy can’t create solid structures, therefore, are bounded together by the plastic resin otherwise they would just form a strong but flexible fabric. Which is useful as it can be made into any shape required thus helping in forming the smooth curves of a jet.

Fun Fact- Boeing had to make customised ovens for the resin to heat in after it had been laid on the mould.

The 787 can also accommodate large windows on its fuselage as it is made up of composites. A hole this large on an aluminium jet would result in build up of stress around the window boundaries due to deviation of stress contours around the holes. Over a period of time, this would lead to damage on the body of the jet which will shorten the lifespan of the jet by a lot.

Aluminium based jets also pose another problem that has been solved by the use of carbon fibre composite. Use of joints and fasteners to rivet the pieces of aluminium together created small bumps and imperfections on the surface of the jet that created a lot of drag. Since the fuselage is now essentially a monolithic structure made of carbon composite, this drag is eliminated.

WINGS Wing Spar is the main structural component of a wing and its main job is to resist the upward bending force. In the 787 dreamliner, it is made up of carbon fibre composites and are structured by aluminium plates. This structure is hollow and acts as a space to store fuel in the jet. Carbon fibre composites have another quality that make them better for making wings. Carbon fibre composites can deform about 1.9% before entering the plastic region whereas aluminium can deform less than 1%.

(stress-strain graph depicting elastic and plastic regions. Source- https://www.smlease.com/entries/mechanical-design-basics/stress-strain-curve-diagram/)

Therefore, the wings can be super flexible. During the flight, the wingtips of a 787 dreamliner can move upward by about 3m.

The wings of a 787 are not the same as that of other aluminium jets. Due to its high flexibility, engineers designed the wings with a high aspect ratio. Aspect ratio is the ratio of the wing span to the mean chord of the wing. Gliders have high aspect ratio and the delta wings of a fighter jet have low aspect ratio. The 777 had an aspect ratio of 9 but the 787 has the aspect ratio of 11!

Thus even though composites are stiffer than aluminium, the wings of 787 bend more due to higher aspect ratio.

Higher aspect ratio means a larger wingspan as the vortex drags at the tip of wing, by spreading the area of wing over a longer wing, we minimize the pressure that drives vortices thus, the energy loss due to vortex drag is reduced. Another difference wings of the 787 dreamliner is the airfoil itself. The 787 uses a supercritical airfoil.

Tested in the early 1970s by NASA at the Dryden Flight Research Centre is now universally recognized by the aviation industry as a wing design that increases flying efficiency and helps lower fuel costs. Conventional wings are rounded on top and flat on the bottom. The SCW is flatter on the top, rounded on the bottom, and the upper trailing edge is accented with a downward curve to restore lift lost by flattening the upper surface.

 THE PROBLEM WITH COMPOSITES

One of the things that stands out the most in the material composition of the 787 is the extensive use of titanium over aluminium since titanium is an expensive metal.

Aluminium on its own doesn’t corrode but when kept near carbon fibre, it oxidises rapidly. This is due to a phenomenon known as galvanic corrosion. When 2 materials with dissimilar electric potentials are kept in contact with each other with an electrolyte such as salt water, exchange of ions takes place.  

Fun Fact- To reduce the cost of manufacturing Titanium, Boeing partnered with Norsk Titanium which 3-D print titanium parts thus eliminating the wastage of metal.

There is another issue with composites, even though carbon fibre is a good conductor of electricity, the plastic resin is an insulator and thus doesn’t allow electricity to conduct through it in case of lightning strikes. Thus, Boeing had to add strips of copper all around the fuselage to help it conduct lightning.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/89232main_TF-2004-13-DFRC.pdf

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-044-DFRC.html

https://www.smlease.com/entries/mechanical-design-basics/stress-strain-curve-diagram/

https://www.innovativecomposite.com/what-is-carbon-fiber/#:~:text=Carbon%20Fiber%20is%20a%20polymer,steel%20and%20twice%20as%20stiff.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/boeing-787-dreamliner

https://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/dreamliner/

https://www.boeing.com/commercial/787/by-design/#/advanced-composite-use

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lapFQl6RezA