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What Is the Gurney Flap?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A Gurney flap is a fitting which can enhance the performance of an airfoil like a wing or so-called spoiler on a vehicle. It can improve the ratio between lift and drag to increase efficiency and performance. Such fittings can be retroactively added to improve performance on existing equipment, in addition to being engineered into the design of an airfoil. The characteristics of the flap can vary, depending on the application.

Flaps change the way air behaves as it moves around and across an airfoil. In wind tunnels with smoke to make patterns of air movement visible, the Gurney flap can demonstrate what it does as an airfoil moves through space. The equipment can increase pressure on one side of an airfoil and control the boundary flow of air as it moves across the surface to improve the way it performs. A small vortex swirls around the flap to change the quality of air movement.

Gerney flaps can enhance the performance of spoilers on vehicles.
Gerney flaps can enhance the performance of spoilers on vehicles.

This innovation is frequently credited to Dan Gurney, who worked with racing cars in the 1970s. Gurney wanted to find a way to improve performance in a cost effective way and found that mounting a strip perpendicular to the airfoil in his cars could have startling results. His vehicles were able to achieve higher rates of speed, particularly around corners, an area where speed is commonly lost in racing because drivers need to slow down for safety. The Gurney flap quickly became a hit, and was added to other vehicle designs as racers caught on to the concept.

Many helicopters utilize the gurney flap to effectively control their lift.
Many helicopters utilize the gurney flap to effectively control their lift.

The same basic design also works for some aircraft, including planes and helicopters. Many helicopters utilize the gurney flap to effectively control their lift, which can vary considerably during flight due to the way the craft moves. The flaps make the helicopter more stable and more efficient, offering a number of benefits to pilots. A number of helicopter designers and developers regularly use this equipment in their projects, and conduct research into other measures to improve aerodynamics.

Gurney flaps make a helicopter more stable and more efficient.
Gurney flaps make a helicopter more stable and more efficient.

Gurney flaps stand out visually because they are perpendicular, rather than being streamlined into the design as is the case with other aerodynamic features. They may be fixed in place, as seen with many designs. Some retract, much like the massive hydraulic flaps used on commercial aircraft during takeoff and landing. The Gurney flap allows more control over lift and speed for pilots and drivers as they handle high speed, performance planes, helicopters, and cars.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WikiMotors researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

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Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WikiMotors researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

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    • Gerney flaps can enhance the performance of spoilers on vehicles.
      By: Marc Xavier
      Gerney flaps can enhance the performance of spoilers on vehicles.
    • Many helicopters utilize the gurney flap to effectively control their lift.
      By: wirojsid
      Many helicopters utilize the gurney flap to effectively control their lift.
    • Gurney flaps make a helicopter more stable and more efficient.
      By: Shutterbas
      Gurney flaps make a helicopter more stable and more efficient.