gullwing

Gullwing is a term used to describe two related design concepts in transportation and aeronautics. In automotive design, gull-wing describes doors that are hinged at the roof and swing upward rather than outward. The term was popularized by the Mercedes-Benz 300SL of the 1950s, whose tall doorway and reinforced frame allowed a low-slung body while preserving access. The name evokes the shape of a seagull’s wings when the doors are open. The DeLorean DMC-12 is another well-known example that used gull-wing doors. Advantages include dramatic aesthetics and easy entry for low cars; drawbacks include higher manufacturing and maintenance costs, as well as potential clearance issues in tight spaces.

In aviation, gull-wing refers to a wing planform with a distinctive bend, where the wing root changes direction to form a “gull” shape. There are two main variants: the gull-wing (downward bend near the root followed by an upward sweep) and the inverted gull-wing (upward bend near the root followed by a downward sweep). The inverted gull-wing is notably associated with the Chance Vought F4U Corsair, a World War II-era fighter designed to shorten landing gear and provide propeller clearance for a large engine. Gull-wing configurations were explored on various aircraft in the 1930s–1950s to address ground clearance, gear design, or aerodynamics, though they added structural complexity and weight.

Beyond automobiles and aircraft, the term sometimes appears in branding or product names, but it remains most closely linked to these door and wing designs.