If you were to ask someone what their least favorite part about flying commercially is, a common answer might be small seats or maybe long lines for security. But going beyond the airport experience, many people dislike flying because of turbulence. These unwelcome bumps and shakes in the air certainly put people on edge and cause flying anxiety for large populations.

Designers of aircraft with the mission of carrying passengers have to consider turbulence. In fact, ensuring a comfortable ride for those onboard is a real consideration for manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. New aircraft work to mitigate the effects of turbulence on the airframe and thus, on the passenger experience. Notably, the Boeing 787 offers a great case study of modern approaches and technologies that reduce the effects of turbulence.

Understanding Turbulence

Turbulence is a common, and often harmless, part of air travel. It is caused by irregular airflow in the atmosphere and occurs when air masses moving at different speeds or directions interact, creating unpredictable motion. Weather systems such as thunderstorms, high-altitude jet streams, and air flowing over mountain ranges are frequent sources. Wake turbulence from other aircraft’s engines can also be a source. For commercial airliners, Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) is the type of turbulence with the most focus. CAT does not contain any visual cues and often occurs in the altitude range where most airliners cruise. While sometimes predictable, CAT causes the most issues due to its seemingly spontaneous nature.

From an aerodynamic perspective, turbulence is defined as the disruption of smooth airflow into chaotic motion. This motion can rapidly change the aerodynamic loads on the aircraft. This may sound unnerving to some, but this behavior is accounted for in the aircraft’s design by safety margins. These margins represent the difference between the expected loads on the aircraft and the ultimate, or maximum, loads that the airframe can withstand, and are very large. The effects of turbulence may feel rough in the cabin, but they rarely pose a risk to the aircraft structure itself.

What differs most between aircraft is not their ability to survive turbulence, but how they respond to it. Wing shape, materials, overall flexibility, and flight control systems all influence how changes in forces are absorbed or transmitted through the airframe. Some designs react sharply to airflow changes, while others dampen and smooth out the motion. Understanding this distinction is key to appreciating why aircraft like the Boeing 787 are perceived as more comfortable in turbulent conditions.

Flexibility Over Rigidity

One of the biggest ways an aircraft can mitigate the effects of sudden bumps and shakes is by designing flexible surfaces. In particular, by designing flexible wings. At first, it may seem counterintuitive to want bendy wings, but it is a desired characteristic. For example, imagine you had a glass cup and a plastic cup. You throw both onto the ground. Which one breaks? Most likely, the glass cup will break, and the plastic cup will not. This is because plastic is less rigid than glass. The more flexible material can withstand impact and sudden changes in force better than the rigid material.

This same principle applies to an aircraft. If the wing is able to bend a little bit, a sudden increase in lift from turbulence can be absorbed more effectively. The ability of the wing to bend helps dissipate the fluctuations in aerodynamic forces, making the experience in the cabin smoother. A rigid wing would cause the entire aircraft to react, rather than just the wing. The Dreamliner has one of the most flexible wings on the market today. Its wings already noticeably curve upwards, but they are designed to withstand large vertical displacements.

Source: Turbli

The above results were obtained during destructive tests of each aircraft when they were first introduced. These tests bend the wing until it breaks, and provide important information on flexibility. The Boeing 787 beat its Airbus counterpart by eight feet, a significant margin. This demonstrates how the airplane works with turbulence, instead of against it. It uses its flexibility as a tool to improve both structural efficiency and passenger comfort. Next time you are on a 787, look out the window and watch the wing flex. It is a characteristic of modern engineering.

787 Wing Design

The Boeing 787’s wings are a central part of its turbulence-friendly design. Dreamliner wings are longer, thinner, and made with advanced composite materials that allow controlled flexibility. This combination enables the wings to bend upward in response to gusts, absorbing energy from turbulent air rather than transferring it directly to the fuselage.

The wings also feature a distinctive sweep and raked wingtips, which improve aerodynamic efficiency while reducing the intensity of turbulence-induced forces. The shape helps the aircraft maintain smoother airflow over the wing surfaces, lessening sudden changes in lift that can jolt the cabin. Additionally, the 787 is known for its use of composite materials. In particular, it is 50% composite material by weight. This extends to the wing as well. Composite materials in the wing allow for more precise engineering of bending and flexing characteristics without compromising structural integrity. Boeing advertises that the use of composites also lowers maintenance costs. Part of this is due to wings that require less maintenance because they can better withstand sudden load changes and avoid wear.

Source: EASA

In practical terms, this design means the 787 can handle turbulence in a way that feels more controlled to passengers. When the aircraft encounters a gust, the wings flex gently instead of resisting every force, reducing the sharp up-and-down movements common on more rigid airplanes. By combining advanced materials with a carefully optimized wing shape, the 787 achieves a balance of efficiency, stability, and comfort that sets it apart from earlier jetliners.

Gust Load Alleviation

Modern airliners are becoming more and more a flying computer than anything else. The software included on aircraft today is state-of-the-art and is truly holistic. The 787 is no different. It is a fly-by-wire aircraft and contains some advanced technology dedicated to turbulence mitigation. For one, all 787 variants contain an active gust alleviation system. The technology is similar to that used on the B-2 bomber and helps annul changes in vertical aircraft acceleration, and keep the wing bending moment constant. In other words, the system analyzes data from sensors on the aircraft and, via the flight computer, automatically deflects the flight surfaces, such as the aileron. The gust alleviation system counteracts the effects of sudden changes in lift without the need for input from the pilot. It is a feature used during autopilot, and keeps the cabin moving smoothly through the air while the flight surfaces may be hard at work.

Another way the 787 uses technology to reduce turbulence sensitivity is the Flaps Up Vertical Mode Suppression System (F0VMS). This technology is only present on the Boeing 787-10. EASA states that this « active modal-suppression system for flutter compliance [was a] novel » technology for commercial airlines. The 787-10 has a longer fuselage than the 787-9, but it has the same wing design. This makes the aircraft more prone to flutter. F0VMS controls the elevators when the flaps are up to alleviate the effects of flutter on the aircraft. This system was included to prevent the need to redesign a stronger, heavier wing that would hinder its flexibility. The F0VMS is similar to the gust alleviation system, but focuses more on aeroelasticity than directly on turbulence. The effect is another piece of technology integrated into the flight computer that helps keep the cabin comfortable during flight. These systems demonstrate how the 787 uses technology to reduce the sensitivity to turbulence.

How Does All Of This Affect The Passenger?

For passengers, the Boeing 787’s combination of flexible wings, advanced materials, and gust load alleviation systems translates into a noticeably smoother ride. In turbulent conditions, the aircraft doesn’t jolt or bounce as sharply as more rigid airplanes might. Instead, the wings absorb and dampen energy from gusts, and the flight control systems make subtle adjustments to keep cabin movement to a minimum. This means fewer sudden bumps and a calmer overall experience.

Beyond comfort, these design features also contribute to a sense of safety and confidence. Passengers often feel the effects of turbulence more intensely than the aircraft itself. By reducing abrupt motions, the 787 helps passengers feel steadier and less anxious. This can make long flights less fatiguing and improve the overall travel experience, especially for those nervous about turbulence. In short, the 787’s design philosophy of working with the air rather than resisting it makes turbulence less of a disruption and more of a minor, manageable part of the journey.

Final Thoughts

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s ability to handle turbulence more smoothly is a result of concrete engineering choices. From its flexible composite wings to its advanced gust load alleviation systems, these features work together to reduce sudden loads on the aircraft and soften the motions felt in the cabin. As a result, passengers experience a steadier, quieter ride, even in weather conditions prone to turbulence. The 787 does not eliminate turbulence, but it does reduce its impact, making modern air travel more comfortable and predictable.