Aircraft wing with a moveable wing tip for load alleviation

摘要

An aircraft wing 104 comprising a fixed wing 106 for mounting to a fuselage, and a wing tip 108 mounted at an end of the fixed wing. The wing tip is rotatable relative to the fixed wing about a first axis 126 and a second axis 114. The wing is operable between: a flight configuration, wherein the wing tip is restrained to prevent rotation of the wing tip about the first axis; and a load alleviating configuration, wherein the wing tip can rotate about the first axis assisted by aerodynamic forces exerted on the wing tip during flight such that the load on the wing is reduced. Rotation of the wing tip about the second axis results in a change in the angle of incidence of the wing tip; this may be achieved by changing the pitch of the wing tip and causing the wing tip to adopt a different position in the load alleviating configuration during flight. Rotation of the wing tip about the second axis can be used to restore the wing tip to the flight configuration following a high load event or move the wing tip to a ground configuration during landing.