In the wind

We are dedicated to the sport of paragliding and to looking after all your paragliding requirements now and into the future. We operate from the famous Bald Hill, Stanwell Park, Australia’s best coastal flying site and just one hour south of Sydney. Here you will find articles, tips, training, discussion and advice to improve our time In the Wind.

Airplane vortex

Wing tip Vortices

 

The phenomena of wing tip vortices is caused by the pressure difference between the upper and the lower wing surfaces. Air, being a fluid, flows from an area of high pressure to an area of lower pressure. This means that the air on the lower wing surface flows from the fuselage or centre of the wing to the tips, were it flows around the wing tip towards the upper wing surface. With the forward motion of the aircraft, it causes a ‘ horizontal tornado’ emanating from the trailing edge of the wing tip and is one element of Aerodynamics.

Hammer365: 156/209 Southwest Wing Tip

Hammer365: 156/209 Southwest Wing Tip (Photo credit: David Reber's Hammer Photography)

At one stage or another we all curse ‘the @@##$% who gave a bloody wake’. Well, here is a series of photo’s taken at Kai Tak Airport, Honk Kong. This is about the most graphical example of wing tip vortices that I’ve come across. Although it is unlikely that you will ever fly behinda Boeing 747, I’m sure that you will keep a good safe distance to your fellow pilots after seeing these photo’s.

Enhanced by Zemanta
    No Twitter Messages.