Spoilers

A spoiler is a device that intentionally reduces the lift component of an airfoil in a controlled manner. Most often, spoilers are plates on the top surface of a wing that can be extended upward into the airflow to spoil the streamlined flow. By doing so, the spoiler reduces the lift of that wing section. Spoilers can be used to increase an aircraft’s descent rate without increasing indicated airspeed, decelerate during landing, and can even be deployed differentially to improve roll capability.