Wing

A wing is a surface used to produce thrust by travelling in air or another gaseous media. The fist use of the word was for the foremost limbs of birds, but has been extended to include or other animal limbs and man made devices.

The foremost use of wings are to fly by deflecting air downwards to produce lift, but wings are also commonly used as a way to produce downforce and hold objects to the ground (for example racing cars).

Aeroplane wings may feature some or more of the following:

• A rounded leading edge
• A sharp trailing edge
• Leading-edge devices such as slats or slots
• Trailing-edge devices such as flaps
• Ailerons (usually near the wingtips) to provide roll control

Wing design is complicated and very tightly associated with the science of aerodynamics.

Examples of wing use:

• A helicopter uses a rotating wing with a varible pitch or angle to provide a directional force.
• The space shuttle uses its wings only for lift during its descent.

Constructions of the same purpose as wings, but working in fluid media instead are generally called fins with hydrodynamics as the governing science.