An airplane wing with a twistable trailing edge morphing in flight over a futuristic cityscape.

Wing Transformation: How Twistable Trailing Edges are Revolutionizing Flight

Nico Varela in Tech & Innovation August 2025 • 3 min read.

"Explore the innovative technology that allows aircraft wings to morph in flight, boosting efficiency and cutting fuel costs for a greener future."

The aviation industry is under constant pressure to enhance energy efficiency. With modern transport aircraft wings already optimized, the focus is shifting towards innovative strategies. One promising approach involves changing the shape of the aircraft wing during flight to maximize aerodynamic performance under various conditions.

This concept has been developed within the Clean Sky 2 (REG-IADP) European research project, focusing on designing a multifunctional twistable trailing-edge for a Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) wing. Such a design could improve aircraft performance during climb and off-design cruise conditions, adapting to changes in speed, altitude, and other flight parameters.

The new full-scale device spans 5.15 meters along the wing and covers 10% of the local wing chord. The structural and kinematic design of the actuation system are being addressed, with three rotary brushless motors activating inner mechanisms for different trailing-edge morphing modes. This thin-walled, closed-section composite trailing-edge concept balances load-carrying capability and shape adaptivity.

What Makes a Wing Twist?

An airplane wing with a twistable trailing edge morphing in flight over a futuristic cityscape.

The idea of changing a wing's shape isn't new. During the early days of aviation, it was considered essential for generating lift and maintaining balance. The Wright Brothers achieved their first sustained flight using a revolutionary wing design that twisted the rear of the wings in opposite directions for lateral control.

As aircraft became faster and heavier, engineers switched to stiff wings with flaps and ailerons. However, modern research is revisiting wing morphing with advanced technologies. Now, all wing morphing concepts can be categorized into three major types:

Global plan form alteration: Changes to the overall shape, like adjusting span or chord.
Out-of-plane transformation: Adjustments like twist or dihedral.
Airfoil adjustment: Altering camber and thickness.

Each design must balance structural stiffness (to withstand aerodynamic loads) and flexibility (to allow shape changes with reasonable actuation power).

The Future of Flight?

The development of multifunctional twistable trailing-edges represents a significant step towards more efficient and sustainable air travel. By enabling wings to adapt dynamically to flight conditions, this technology promises to reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions, and improve overall aerodynamic performance. As research progresses and these innovations are implemented, the future of flight looks set to be more environmentally friendly and economically viable.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3390/aerospace5040122, Alternate LINK

Title: Exploitation Of A Multifunctional Twistable Wing Trailing-Edge For Performance Improvement Of A Turboprop 90-Seats Regional Aircraft

Subject: Aerospace Engineering

Journal: Aerospace

Publisher: MDPI AG

Authors: Francesco Rea, Francesco Amoroso, Rosario Pecora, Frederic Moens

Published: 2018-11-16

Everything You Need To Know

What is a twistable trailing edge, and how does it work?

A twistable trailing edge is a multifunctional component of an aircraft wing designed to morph its shape during flight. It is developed within the Clean Sky 2 (REG-IADP) European research project. This technology involves changing the wing's shape to maximize aerodynamic performance under various conditions, such as changes in speed and altitude. The trailing edge, spanning 5.15 meters along the wing and covering 10% of the local wing chord, uses an actuation system with three rotary brushless motors to activate inner mechanisms for different morphing modes. This allows the wing to adapt dynamically to flight conditions, improving efficiency.

How does wing morphing technology differ from traditional aircraft wing designs?

Traditional aircraft wings, especially in modern transport aircraft, are optimized, and changes are often made using flaps and ailerons. The twistable trailing-edge technology, which is a form of wing morphing, represents a significant advancement. It enables wings to adapt dynamically to flight conditions by altering their shape, which is not possible with traditional designs. There are three main types of wing morphing: global plan form alteration, out-of-plane transformation (like twist), and airfoil adjustment. Each approach aims to balance structural stiffness and flexibility, allowing for shape changes while maintaining the aircraft's structural integrity.

What are the main benefits of implementing twistable trailing edges on aircraft?

The main benefits of implementing twistable trailing edges are improved aerodynamic performance, reduced fuel consumption, and lower emissions. By enabling wings to adapt dynamically to flight conditions, this technology enhances efficiency during climb and off-design cruise conditions. This adaptability allows aircraft to fly more efficiently across a range of speeds, altitudes, and other flight parameters, contributing to a more environmentally friendly and economically viable future for air travel.

What types of wing morphing concepts are there, and how do they contribute to flight efficiency?

Wing morphing concepts are categorized into three main types: global plan form alteration, out-of-plane transformation (like twist or dihedral), and airfoil adjustment. Each concept offers different ways to optimize wing performance. Global plan form alteration changes the overall wing shape. Out-of-plane transformation adjusts wing characteristics like twist. Airfoil adjustment alters the camber and thickness. These morphing strategies allow wings to adapt to changing flight conditions, improving aerodynamic efficiency and, consequently, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

How does the design of the twistable trailing-edge balance structural integrity with flexibility?

The design of the twistable trailing edge balances structural stiffness with flexibility through careful engineering. The device uses a thin-walled, closed-section composite design that ensures load-carrying capability while allowing for shape adaptivity. The actuation system, powered by three rotary brushless motors, manages the inner mechanisms for different trailing-edge morphing modes. This balance ensures the wing can withstand aerodynamic loads while still changing its shape dynamically in response to changing flight conditions, enhancing overall performance and efficiency.