What are the notches on an airplane wing?

Question

When you look out the window, there are little notches on the wing that stick up from the smooth wing surface. What purpose do they serve?

For example on this picture you can see nine little notches on the lighter colored part of the wing.
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0931089&WxsIERv=Obrvat%20737-3U4&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Fbhgujrfg%20Nveyvarf&QtODMg=Va%20Syvtug&ERDLTkt=HFN%20-%20Pnyvsbeavn&ktODMp=Frcgrzore%2020%2C%202005&BP=1&WNEb25u=Enycu%20Qhranf%20-%20Wrgjnfu%20Vzntrf&xsIERvdWdsY=A628FJ&MgTUQtODMgKE=Nf%20jr%20znxr%20bhe%20jnl%20gb%20CUK%20jr%20unq%20gb%20syl%20nebhaq%20fbzr%20ovt%20ohvyqvat%20Gfgezf%2C%20oneryl%20ivfvoyr%20bss%20gur%20evtug%20jvat%20vf%20n%20Abegujrfg%20757%20sylvat%20nebhaq%20bar%20bs%20gur%20fgbezf.%20%5B20Q%2F18-55%5D&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=2940&NEb25uZWxs=2005-09-28%2018%3A54%3A51&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=27703%2F2795&static=yes&width=1024&height=780&sok=JURER%20%20%28%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271199124%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271196662%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271185935%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271180295%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271160484%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271115914%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271059302%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271043789%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271014263%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271005005%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271002980%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27999394%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27992985%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27985226%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27968111%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27967917%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27958601%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27936952%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27931089%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27930789%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27928774%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27927188%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27920632%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27918087%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27914097%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27910029%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27907704%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27886512%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27865746%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27836995%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27834645%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27827593%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27826771%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27797014%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27796595%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27784300%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27784229%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27759443%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27754671%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27741300%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27735353%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27705279%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27693704%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27671601%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27656803%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27651878%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27636258%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27636126%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27632017%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27631882%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27631421%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27623704%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27589839%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27588449%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27582545%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27557802%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27543357%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27535984%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27532024%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27529189%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20&photo_nr=19&prev_id=0936952&next_id=0930789&size=L

Answer 1

They are modifications to enhance performance of the wing. The purpose of these modifications is to create vortices (air turbulences) in a controlled and predictable manner. Vortices are often undesirable because they produce drag, but the vortices these devices create are beneficial since they delay wing stall. Stall occurs when a wing reaches a high enough angle of attack that the airflow separates from its surface. This flow separation results in a rapid loss of lift, and the aircraft may become uncontrollable.

The advantage of wing devices that create vortices is that a vortex adds energy to the airflow and increases its forward momentum. This momentum encourages the airflow to remain attached to the surface of the wing at higher angles of attack than it would otherwise. As a result, the wing is able to continue generating lift in conditions where it would have stalled. This behavior is particularly advantageous on high-performance military aircraft that need to be extremely maneuverable at high angles of attack in combat. The advantage for commercial airliners is increased safety since the plane is less likely to experience a wing stall during critical stages of flight like takeoff and landing.

Answer 2

they are the aileron and flaps. Aileron help turn (along with rudder) and flaps slow the plane down.

They are modifications to enhance performance of the wing. The purpose of these modifications is to create vortices (air turbulences) in a controlled and predictable manner. Vortices are often undesirable because they produce drag, but the vortices these devices create are beneficial since they delay wing stall. Stall occurs when a wing reaches a high enough angle of attack that the airflow separates from its surface. This flow separation results in a rapid loss of lift, and the aircraft may become uncontrollable.

The advantage of wing devices that create vortices is that a vortex adds energy to the airflow and increases its forward momentum. This momentum encourages the airflow to remain attached to the surface of the wing at higher angles of attack than it would otherwise. As a result, the wing is able to continue generating lift in conditions where it would have stalled. This behavior is particularly advantageous on high-performance military aircraft that need to be extremely maneuverable at high angles of attack in combat. The advantage for commercial airliners is increased safety since the plane is less likely to experience a wing stall during critical stages of flight like takeoff and landing.

Answer 3

Vortex generators. They were installed on 757 aircraft as a result of an Airworthiness Directive to correct a problem of uncommanded rolls in the landing configuration. Read this article on vortex generators:
http://old.smartcockpit.com/operations/Vortex%20Generators.PDF

Answer 4

they are vortex generators. they change the air flow over the wing in that area. they are needed to change the flow of air over that part of the wing at certain speeds. with different slat and flap settings.more so low speed say landing and takeoff.

Answer 5

Well, since they look more like upright nozzles, I'll hazard a guess, as I'm not exactly sure - but it could be part of an onboard wing deicing system, that sprays a deicer over the wing(s) if ice starts building up on them. They don't look like any sort of turbulence deflector I know of, so I'm assuming they are part of a liquid delivery system. Just a guess...

Answer 6

Are they for de-icing? or for wingtip vorticies? or my favorite maybe : Are they fuel expansion relief valves?

But everybody is overlooking one major important observation! I have never sat that far back in coach to see. See; when I asks fo a bulkhead seat, i iz meanin da other bulkhead.

Answer 7

They are part of the wing's aerodynamic design, to enhance air flow.

Answer 8

vortex generators.. when people were new to the flight line as a gag we would tell new electricians to OHM out the vortex generators...

Answer 9

Trolls that live in the sky come down and do that so that it gives the pilot an idea how much longer he should be flying the plain before it crashes.

Answer 10

You need to go to flight attendant school for years to figure that out.