Wings have to produce a large amount of lift during the landing approach, but have only a small profile in fast flight in order to keep the drag low. In the past, this problem has been solved only unsatisfactorily by swing wings and leading-edge flaps (slats). In the case of the flying honeycomb, a large number of individual wings are arranged in a honeycomb shape in a supporting device which allows adjustment in flight and variation between lift and speed. Extremely slow flying is possible using the flying honeycomb, and the cruise speed can be continuously variably increased until the individual wings form a common wing unit. During the landing approach, the individual wings are erected shortly before touchdown, and thus act as a braking surface.
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