Demo story Written as an example of the format. Real stories will be edited and fact-checked before publication.
The test that looks like a failure
In an ultimate load test the wing is pulled upward until it reaches 150% of the highest load expected in service. On a large airliner the tip can move several metres. The structure is designed to do this: stiffness and strength are separate properties, and a wing optimised for mass will deflect.
Why flexibility helps
A flexible wing sheds gust loads. As it bends, its angle of attack distribution changes and the peak load reduces. A rigid wing would have to carry the whole gust, which means more material, which means more mass, which means less payload.