vortilon
Sign in to savethumb|right|300px|Vortilons can be seen projecting from underneath the center leading edge of the wings of this Hawker 850XP Vortilons are fixed aerodynamic devices on aircraft wings used to improve handling at low speeds.
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thumb|right|300px|Vortilons can be seen projecting from underneath the center leading edge of the wings of this Hawker 850XP Vortilons are fixed aerodynamic devices on aircraft wings used to improve handling at low speeds.
The vortilon was invented by aerodynamicists working at Douglas Aircraft who had previously developed the engine pylons for the Douglas DC-8. The original pylons which wrapped around the leading edge of the wing had to be cut back to reduce excessive cruise drag. Wind tunnel testing of the next Douglas commercial aircraft, the Douglas DC-9 which had no under-wing engines, showed a cutback engine pylon would be beneficial to wing lift and upwash at the tail at the low speed stall. The pylon was reduced in size and became the vortilon (VORTex-generating-pYLON).