WING LOAD ALLEVIATION METHODS AND APPARATUS

Wing load alleviation methods and apparatus are disclosed. An example winglet system for an aircraft includes a first winglet including a body portion having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a base portion to be coupled to an outboard end of a wing such that the body portion projects at an upward angle from the wing during all modes of airplane operation, a control surface coupled to the body portion proximate to the trailing edge, and at least one of a spoiler and an aileron coupled to the outboard end of the wing; and a processor to, in response to at least one input signal indicative of one of a subset of flight conditions, command actuated deflections of both the control surface of the first winglet and the at least one of the spoiler and the aileron to create an incremental pressure field in an airflow region inboard of the first winglet.