Method for reducing the tangential velocities in aircraft trailing vortices

A method is presented to reduce the tangential velocities in the trailing vortex system shed from an airplane wing. The device employed is a porous section of the wing at the tip which essentially tends to equalize the pressure on the upper and lower surfaces. Experiments were conducted on a full-scale aircraft in flight and vorticity measured by probes devised specifically for this purpose. Results showed significant reduction in tangential velocities close behind the wing and to a lesser degree far downstream. Controllable porosity is suggested as a means of reducing the vortex tangential velocities and subsequent potential induced rolling moment imposed on a following aircraft.