Wing facts for kids

A wing is the part of an animal or airplanes that allows it to fly.

Animal wings

A wing is part of an animal that allows it to fly. By moving its wings, the animal can produce lift and get off the ground.

Animals that have wings are insects, birds and bats. Birds' wings are made of feathers. The wings of bats are made of skin, which is stretched between the bones of the bat's arms and fingers. Not all insects and birds can fly, even if they have wings.

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  A bird in flight.

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  Insect wings.

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  A swan spreading its wings.

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  Here you can see the bones in a bat's wings.

Artificial wings

Two examples of airplane wings

• Airplanes also have wings. Those wings cannot be moved, they are stable, but the wings also produce lift, so the airplane will get off the ground if you move it fast enough.

• People also talk about wings of buildings. What they mean is usually a part of the building that is separated from the rest (for example: the west wing of a building).

Images for kids

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  A swept wing KC-10 Extender (top) refuels a trapezoidal-wing F-22 Raptor.

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  Condensation in the low pressure region over the wing of an Airbus A340, passing through humid air

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  The wing of a landing BMI Airbus A319-100. The slats at its leading edge and the flaps at its trailing edge are extended.

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  Winged tree seeds that cause autorotation in descent

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  A laughing gull, exhibiting the "gull wing" outline

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  Bat in flight