Definition
The outermost ends of an airplane's wings, where the wing structure terminates laterally. Wingtips are shaped to reduce aerodynamic drag caused by air spilling from the high-pressure area below the wing to the low-pressure area above it, and they often house position lights and, on some aircraft, fuel vents or winglets.
Plain English
The far ends of each wing — the parts that stick out the most to the left and right of the airplane.
Context Anchor
Seen during preflight inspection, taxiing near obstacles, and discussions of the airplane’s outer wing surfaces.
Why Pilots Care
Wingtips are the origin point of wingtip vortices that create induced drag and can pose wake turbulence hazards to following aircraft.
Intuition Check
Do not think of wingtips as separate little wings. They are the outer ends of the main wings.
Example Sentence 1
During the walk-around, the pilot inspected each wingtip for damage and confirmed the position lights were intact.
Example Sentence 2
Winglets installed on the wingtips reduced fuel burn by minimizing induced drag.