An aircraft having a fixed wing and a wing tip device at the tip thereof is disclosed. The wing tip device is configurable between: (i) a flight configuration for use during flight and (ii) a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations, in which ground configuration the wing tip device is moved away from the flight configuration such that the span of the aircraft wing is reduced. A locking mechanism locks the wing tip device in the flight configuration, and includes a plurality of lugs located on each of the fixed wing and wing tip device. Locking pins are inserted through and lock together corresponding lugs when the wing tip device is in the flight configuration. A secondary locking mechanism of a plurality of blocking members prevents the removal of the locking pins from the corresponding lugs, whereby the plurality of blocking members have a common actuator.

An apparatus (1000) is provided for controlling a movable wing tip device (9) of an aircraft (1). The apparatus includes an actuator (15) for moving the wing tip device from a load-alleviating configuration to a flight configuration; and a processor (10) which generates a signal for controlling operation of the aircraft so as to reduce the force required for the actuator to move the wing tip device from the load-alleviating configuration to the flight configuration. The apparatus may be included on an aircraft (1) and used in a method of moving the wing tip device from the load-alleviating configuration to the flight configuration during flight.

An aircraft wing assembly including a wing having a main body 5 and a movable portion 6, so that the wing may be folded when taxiing. A lighting system is provided with a light source 9; a light emitter 11 arranged on one of the main body and the movable portion, and a light guide 10 arranged to transmit light from the light source along a path between the main body and the movable portion to the light emitter. The provision of a light guide between the light source and the emitter allows for light to be transmitted to the emitter across the joint 8 between the wing main body and the movable portion. Thus, lighting on the wing may be provided without the need to provide electrical wiring across the joint. A single light source 9 may be employed to illuminate multiple light emitters 11, 13 on the wing.

An aircraft having a wing, including a fixed wing with a wing tip device movably mounted at the outer end thereof is disclosed. The wing tip device is movable between: a flight configuration; and a ground configuration. The wing tip device and the fixed wing are separated along an oblique primary cut plane. The wing tip device and the fixed wing meet along an interfacing cut line. The wing tip device and fixed wing comprise a wing skin with a thickness, and end faces extending across the thickness of the wing skin provide interfacing surfaces corresponding to the interfacing cut line, wherein the interfacing surfaces are angled at a first orientation towards the front of the wing and a second, opposite, orientation towards the rear of the wing.

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to control and monitor a folding wingtip actuation system are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a sequence and control module to determine whether to control a movement of a folding wingtip assembly coupled to a wing of an aircraft, the sequence and control module is to determine actions during a first stage and a second stage to complete in sequence to move the folding wingtip assembly, determine a status of a first component of the folding wingtip assembly based on a sensor measurement, in response to the status being a non-responsive status, replace a first input from the first component with a second input from a second component, and control the movement of the folding wingtip assembly based on the actions and the second input.

An aircraft including a wing (1) and a wing tip device (6). The wing tip device (6) is moveable between a flight configuration for use during flight and a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations. In the ground configuration the wing tip device is folded inwardly from the flight configuration such that the span of the aircraft is reduced. The wing tip device (6) is connected to the wing along a hinge axis (14) by spar beams (10 and 12) of the wing tip device, one of the beams being mounted for pivoting about a fixed axis and the other beam being mounted on a spherical bearing (15) to provide greater freedom of movement. Various actuator arrangements may be provided to pivot the wing tip device.

An apparatus and method of a wing fold system may include a latch assembly rotating an unfixed portion of a wing, with respect to a fixed portion of the wing, between a flight position of the wing and a folded position of the wing. A first portion of the wing may hold a rotating portion of the latch assembly. A second portion of the wing may hold a secured portion of the latch assembly. The rotating portion of the latch assembly may rotate between an open position and a closed position. A slot in the rotating portion may receive the secured portion of the latch assembly. A securing portion of the rotating portion may secure a secured portion of the latch assembly. The latch assembly may prevent rotation of the second portion when the wing may be in the flight position.

An aircraft wing subassembly including: a wing skin defining a first outer surface, and, a structural reinforcement member, the structural reinforcement member defining a second outer surface, wherein the structural reinforcement member is arranged within the wing such that the first outer surface and the second outer surface form part of an outer wing surface.

A method of assembling a wing tip device to a wing of a powered aircraft including: providing a wing tip, providing a wing tip device, pivotably attaching the wing tip device to the wing at a first position, pivoting the wing tip device about the first position, and attaching the wing tip device to the wing at a second position spaced from the first position.

An aircraft wing, including a main part and a wing tip mounted mobile in attack relative to the main part.