Flexible wings to change shape of aviation

After six months and 22 research flights, NASA has announced the successful completion of initial flight tests of a new morphing wing technology.

The shape-changing wings are not only designed to reduce an aircraft’s weight significantly as well as the noise it generates during flight, these flaps could also save the industry millions of dollars annually in fuel savings.

In tests, the wing’s curve remained set anywhere from —2 to 30 degrees, but it can be adjusted even in midflight. Flexible wings can make for lighter, more fuel-efficient planes as well as quieter take-offs and landings, the US space agency said in a statement. The test team flew research flights with the Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge (ACTE) flight control surfaces.