Why do people make wings like these?

[Unknow0059]

I mean, why do they put smaller wings at an weird position at the end of other wings? Edited November 3, 2014 by Unknow0059

[Lunaran]

On real planes: helps ensure that the wing generates lift all the way out to the tip by providing a little 'wall' to block wingtip vortices from forming.

In KSP: looks cool.

[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingtip_device ]

[Taki117]

it's for Yaw authority, and it kinda looks cool. Instead of having a giant vertical stabilizer in the middle they decided to use smaller control surfaces at the wing tips.

[Alshain]

It's just another design style for vertical stabilizers and yaw control. Their analogues in the real world reduce the trailing vortex, but that isn't simulated in game. It's called a "Blended Winglet".

Edited November 3, 2014 by Alshain

[Red Iron Crown]

In KSP: looks cool.

The reason for so many KSP design decisions.

[Unknow0059]

Thanks for everyone!

[xrayfishx]

If you use FAR, it will actually give the same effect as in real life. The wing part at the tip of the wing (or the whole wing if it's one part) will give slightly less lift than it would if it had another wing part attached to its tip. So by curving the wing up like that you get the maximum out of the wing and some extra yaw stability.

[How2FoldSoup]

If you use FAR, it will actually give the same effect as in real life. The wing part at the tip of the wing (or the whole wing if it's one part) will give slightly less lift than it would if it had another wing part attached to its tip. So by curving the wing up like that you get the maximum out of the wing and some extra yaw stability.

Are you positive about this? I didn't think FAR simulates laminar flow, but just does some fancy raycasting and math to simulate aerodynamic forces. The reason for them in real life is because you get smooth laminar flow along the whole wing. Without them, you'll get pressure gradients which would cause extra drag at the wingtips making your plane less efficient.

I hate to be :that guy: but can I get a citation from ferram saying this?