# Airplane fans, check this out **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 23, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068 "2014-12-23T23:47:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068/41 "2014-12-25T00:37:56Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > I can’t tell. You can tell me. I’m a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068/42 "2014-12-25T00:41:52Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > You can tell me. I’m a doctor. No, I mean I’m just not sure. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068/43 "2014-12-25T00:49:05Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > No, I mean I’m just not sure. Well, can’t you take a guess? ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068/44 "2014-12-25T00:49:29Z")
Well… not for another two hours. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068/45 "2014-12-25T00:52:48Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Impressive, but what about wake turbulence? Don’t airplanes have to maintain a long distance from 747s after the 747s take off, for instance, because of wake turbulence? And here you have five airliners in close proximity. They make sure they are positioned to avoid any wake turbulence… ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068/46 "2014-12-25T00:56:29Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > Well… not for another two hours. You can’t take a guess for another two hours? ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068/47 "2014-12-25T00:59:17Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > You can’t take a guess for another two hours? No, I mean we can’t land for another two hours. Fog has closed down everything this side of the mountains. We’ve got to go through to Chicago! ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068/48 "2014-12-25T01:00:16Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > You can’t take a guess for another two hours? No, I mean we can’t land for another two hours. Fog has closed down everything this side of the mountains. We’ve got to go through to Chicago! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068/49 "2014-12-25T01:03:56Z")
Serious question though, what’s with the curly-queue at the wing tip? I’ve never seen a commercial airliner with that configuration. ETA: Ninja’d on the “Can’t you take a guess” line. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068/50 "2014-12-25T01:15:47Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Serious question though, what’s with the curly-queue at the wing tip? I’ve never seen a commercial airliner with that configuration. Newer-generation wingtip vortex reducer. [Known also as winglets or wingtip fences](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingtip_device). Helps reduce the generation of vortices (duh) at the tip of the wing which reduces drag at speed and saves on fuel. With newer composite materials it is easier to “merge” them into flowing of the curve of the wing as opposed to having a sharp angle. [Airbus page on winglets](http://www.airbus.com/innovation/proven-concepts/in-design/winglets/) [Various Boeing forms of the technology](http://www.b737.org.uk/winglets.htm) ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068/51 "2014-12-25T01:30:03Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Serious question though, what’s with the curly-queue at the wing tip? I’ve never seen a commercial airliner with that configuration. > > ETA: Ninja’d on the “Can’t you take a guess” line. have you flown recently? winglets have been a thing for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068/52 "2014-12-25T01:40:05Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Newer-generation wingtip vortex reducer. [Known also as winglets or wingtip fences](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingtip_device). Helps reduce the generation of vortices (duh) at the tip of the wing which reduces drag at speed and saves on fuel. With newer composite materials it is easier to “merge” them into flowing of the curve of the wing as opposed to having a sharp angle. > [Airbus page on winglets](http://www.airbus.com/innovation/proven-concepts/in-design/winglets/) > [Various Boeing forms of the technology](http://www.b737.org.uk/winglets.htm) Interesting. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-fans-check-this-out/708068/53 "2014-12-25T01:46:30Z")
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