A wing, like everything else on an aircraft, represents a compromise between numerous factors, including cost, structure and performance. A wing is an extension of the wing tip, the purpose of which is to improve aerodynamic efficiency. “Airflow around the flaps is complicated, and the flaps must be carefully designed and tested for each aircraft.” (How Things Work: Winglet). The wing invention allows for a reduction in drag acting on the aircraft by converting the airflow at the tip of the wing into a forward force, rather than an upward force. The size, shape and mounting angle of the wing on the wing depend on the type and size of the aircraft. A wing improves the overall performance of the aircraft and is beneficial to the aviation industry as the aircraft will have better fuel economy, reduced need for engine maintenance checks, the ability to carry a larger payload and will be better for the environment. The idea of ​​winglets was developed by F.W. Lancaster, a British aerodynamicist in the late 1800s. However, it wasn't until 1976, when an energy crisis caused the price of fuel to skyrocket, that Richard Whitcomb, a NASA aerodynamics expert, took the Lancaster concept to the next step. Whitcomb soon published a comparison of a wing with a wing and the same wing with a simple extension of the wing to increase the span. This article showed a significant improvement from simple wing extension to wing with flap. The wing caused a reduction in drag and an improvement in the lift/drag ratio. Whitcomb proved that in theory the wing would work, but it was Burt Rutan, an American aerospace engineer who went ahead and designed his "Vari-Eze" to incorporate the "Whitcomb Wings". "Rutan takes the fins from the design... middle of the paper......advantage of drag reduction through throttling and fuel savings. Payload: Due to improved fuel economy, the fins allow an aircraft to carry less fuel and more payload. This allows the company to save money on fuel and make more use of the payload. Environment: lower fuel consumption means lower emissions a decrease in CO2 of up to 6% e of NOX up to 8%. “Reducing drag is a high-priority goal of [aircraft] designers.” (textbook, page 25) By reducing the flow along the wingtip, the flaps are therefore capable of weakening vortices and significantly decreasing drag. During cruise, minimal drag means maximum performance Flaps are now quite common in aviation, making them “…one of the most successful examples of aeronautical innovation used worldwide on all types of aircraft." (nasa.gov).