How does the wake turbulence vortex circulate around each wingtip?

• A. Outward, upward and around each tip
• B. Inward, downward and behind
• C. In a vertical line behind the wing
• D. It remains stationary

Answer: (A)

When a wing creates lift, air is deflected downward behind the wing. That downward deflection wraps around the wingtips, forming a pair of vortices that circulate around each tip. The flow around each tip moves outward away from the aircraft, then upward at the tip, and curls around behind the tip as it continues in the wake. This description—outward, upward, and around each wingtip—best matches how wake turbulence actually behaves. The other ideas imply the vortices move inward, stay in a vertical line, or remain stationary, which doesn’t describe the rotating, wrapping flow that is produced by lift.