ORIGINAL: Lafayette
So ok, vorticies are bad because they create turbulent flow, that is destabilizing and decreases wing efficiency and it's lift. How come, then, that geese fly in a V formation which puts the wings of the bag goose right into the vorticity of the lead goose? How come they use less energy flying that way? Is this the same principle as in a Su-33 that there are small wings in front of the main wing? How come that is good, doesn't that put the back wing into vortex of the front wing?
Lafayette.
Where is it written that the trailing geese's wings are right in the vorticity of the ones ahead?
The flock that just flew over was V'd rather wide. It looked to me like no vortex from any tip would or could have affected any trailing goose.
I wouldn't bet that the Su-33 canards are there to produce anything for the wing. The purpose the designer had for those probably was more important to him than whatever deterimental effects they produce.