Wingtip vorticies: Their benefits?

[cathaywannabe]

What are the benefits of wingtip vorticies? I know the disadvantages, but there's got to be a couple odd benefits too...

 

[The_Russian]

Reduced induced drag.

 

[gsrcrsx68]

Reduced induced drag.

I thought wingtip vorticies=Induced Drag?

Benefit? Ability to rapidly dissipate energy by increasing angle of attack might be a benefit(ex. during landing).

 

[The_Russian]

Induced drag is bad. Wingtip vorticies help to reduce induced drag by increasing the lateral flow of air over the wing.

 

[gsrcrsx68]

Are you thinking of wing vortex generators as opposed to the vorticies themselves?

 

[A Squared]

Reduced induced drag.

Nope. absolutely, 100% wrong. Go back and review basic aerodynamics.

I thought wingtip vorticies=Induced Drag?

That is correct. Here's a link to a NASA page explaining how vortexes create induced drag.

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/induced.html

 

[VNugget]

They're fun to play in behind someone else.

 

[MauleSkinner]

When you fly formation, you have an updraft from your lead's wingtip vortex to fly in...reduced power required, less fuel burn.

Fly safe!

David

 

[jergbsn]

Ground effect if you think that's a benefit.

 

[A Squared]

Ground effect if you think that's a benefit.

Ground effect reduces drag by reducing vortices, which create induced drag ... so that can hardly be considered a benefit of vortices.