Definition
In ADF (Automatic Direction Finder) orientation, the wingtip position is the relative bearing of 090° or 270° — meaning the NDB (non-directional beacon) station is directly off the right or left wingtip of the aircraft. It is used as a reference point for timing, intercepting bearings, and judging progress relative to a station.
Plain English
The moment when the radio station you are tracking is directly out to the side of your aircraft — straight off one wingtip or the other.
Context Anchor
Seen in traditional navigation orientation, especially when using a bearing indicator to figure out where a station is relative to the aircraft.
Derivation
A wingtip is the outer end of a wing. The phrase helps because it describes direction from the pilot’s viewpoint: if something is in wingtip position, it lies out toward the left or right wingtip.
Why Pilots Care
Quickly confirms the aircraft is abeam the station so the pilot can start a turn or descent at the correct moment.
Grounding Statement
Picture sitting in the cockpit and looking straight out along one wing; a station in that direction is in wingtip position.
Intuition Check
Wingtip position does not mean the physical location of the aircraft’s wingtip. It means the direction of another point relative to the aircraft: about 90 degrees off the nose, to the left or right.
Example Sentence 1
When the ADF needle swung to the wingtip position, the pilot started the timer to mark the abeam point.
Example Sentence 2
Once the beacon showed at wingtip position, the pilot turned inbound.