The Stealthy Owl Wing
Justin Jaworski believes the key to creating quieter airplanes, wind turbines and underwater vehicles may be found on the wing of an owl.
Jaworski, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics, is studying the physics of owls’ silent flight in hopes of one day influencing the design of vehicles and technologies. Four years of research, he says, have convinced him that three key features account for the owl’s ability to fly more quietly—and stealthily—than hawks, eagles and other birds of prey.
Illustration by: Harry Campbell
Posted on:
Thursday, May 22, 2014
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1. The Cutting Edge: The leading edge of the owl’s wing, the part closest to its head, is made of stiff, evenly spaced, mostly aerodynamic fibers that reduce noise.
2. Plush, But Dangerous: The wing’s fluffy upper surface is made of a down feather material similar in texture to commercial velvet. Under a microscope, says Jaworski, this structure looks like vertical strings with interlocking barbs at their tops. This mesh creates a buffer layer that also stifles sound.
3. Flexible in Flight: The owl’s porous and compliant trailing edge, where the most noise is generated by any bird, may be the biggest key to its silent flight. In contrast to the stiff feathers on the trailing edge of a duck or eagle wing, the trailing edge feathers on a large owl’s wing are flexible and provide significant noise reduction.