An arrangement for avoiding clashing on a folding wing tip

A method of moving a wing tip device from a flight configuration for use during flight, to a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations, in which ground configuration the wing tip device is moved away from the flight configuration such that the span of the aircraft wing is reduced,

• the method comprising the steps of
• opening a hinged panel from a closed position in which the panel is located in the path of a moveable element of the wing tip device, and is substantially flush with the upper surface of the wing, to an open position in which the panel is located outside the path of the moveable element.

A method of moving a wing tip device from a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations, to a flight configuration for use during flight in which flight configuration the wing tip device is moved away from the ground configuration such that the span of the aircraft wing is increased,

• the method comprising the steps of
• closing a hinged panel from an open position, to a closed position in which the panel is substantially flush with the upper surface of the wing,
• the closing of the panel being effected by the wing tip device and the hinged panel contacting each other along an overlap region, such that the wing tip device draws the hinged panel back down into the closed position during movement from the ground configuration to the flight configuration.

A folding wing tip arrangement for an aircraft wing, the arrangement comprising a fixed wing and a rotatable wing tip device at the tip thereof, the wing tip device being configurable by a wing tip actuator between:

• (i) a flight configuration for use during flight and (ii) a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations, in which ground configuration the wing tip device is moved away from the flight configuration such that the span of the aircraft wing is reduced,
• wherein the arrangement comprises a moveable panel at the interface between the wing tip device and the fixed wing,
• and wherein the panel is moveable to an open position to accommodate movement of the wing tip actuator as the wing tip actuator moves the wing tip device to the ground configuration.