Originally Posted by SCaro
Raked wing tips: I would say the 777 is years behind on that. We had them on gliders more than a decade ago. Just look at a Discus.
Since then computer design and materials have advanced to the point where the simple nature of the glider technology can be scaled up to the demands of an airliner.
If you want to see what an ideal wing would look like if it were possible to forget wingspan and strength limitations... look at the wandering albatross. That wing has been developed over aeons to provide the best lift/drag ratio possible. The new raked wigtips bear similarities that can't be ignored.
I always wondered why eaglesa nd the like don't have the same finely pointed wingtips. Apparently the rounded wingtips with the feathers that separate and fan out at the wingtip are best able to identify the rising air of a thermal.