NASA is using to construct the wing are small black modules consisting of carbon fiber. The wings will one day be able to form civilian airplanes that fly in any conditions. Currently, NASA is focusing on unmanned drones. The appeal of shape-changing wings lies in the gapless and smooth nature of the resulting geometries. In contrast to conventional wings, relying on discrete, moveable parts (ailerons, flaps, slats...) to achieve variations of their shape – and hence of their aerodynamic properties – morphing wings attain these geometrical variations with continuous deformations of their outer surface. The absence of discrete curvature changes and of gaps has the potential of reducing the shape drag associated to the wing, thus increasing their aerodynamic efficiency. This characteristic makes adaptive wings well-suited to operate at various different operational conditions, as they can optimally adapt their shape and thus minimize the resulting drag. See also Aileron M. P. W. Boulton, the British inventor (1868) of the aileron Elevon – a combination elevator/aileron used on Bleriot's earliest designs and more recently on flying wing and delta wing aircraft. References External links NASA – interactive diagram of wing warping used on the Wright Flyer Park Ranger demonstrates wing warping on a reproduction of the 1902 Flyer at the Wright Brothers National Memorial Centennial of flight – illustration of Wilbur Wright invention of wing warping using a cardboard box Aerospaceweb – Origins of Control Surfaces PBS – What's Wing Warping? Flight demo of Owl's Head Transportation Museum's Etrich Taube reproduction, demonstrating warping wingtips and stabilizer Aerodynamics Aircraft wing design de:Flügelverwindung