text: Nasa has unveiled a revolutionary type of wing that it says could save millions in air travel. The wing is able to morph itself like that of a bird to provide the same functionality as normal flaps, but with much less weight. It can also reportedly be used to increase fuel efficiency and even reduce noise on take-off and landing. Scroll down for videos . Nasa has been testing a flexible wing on a plane in California (shown). The wing can bend from -2 degrees up to 30 degrees. It means that regular flaps aren't needed - and it is much lighter. In this image, the technology is visible at the flat 'flap at the base of the wing . The latest test of the technology took place above Nasa’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Over the past six months, 22 research flights of the Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge (ACTE) flight control surface has taken place. The project is a collaboration between Nasa, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and FlexSys from Ann Arbor Michigan. The wing is able to ‘bend’ through angles from -2 degrees up to 30 degrees. Test pilots have described it as being ‘very smooth’, while it can also deal with hard banking manoeuvres and extreme temperatures. For all the flights so far, the wing has flown in a fixed position on a Gulfstream III jet between these two extremes, to ensure risk is minimal. But for future flights, the wings will be able to change angles while in the air. The breakthrough could also increase fuel efficiency up to 12 per cent, and reduce noise at take-off and landing up to 40 per cent. The wing is shown above bending through its two extremes. The project is a collaboration between Nasa, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and FlexSys Inc from Ann Arbor Michigan. Credit: FlexSys . Figures suggest the breakthrough could increase fuel efficiency up to 12 per cent, and reduce noise at take-off and landing up to 40 per cent, compared to traditional wing flaps (one shown on a Boeing 737) A Transformer-style ‘flying car’ being developed by an Arizona company could soon spell the end of runways. The company’s vision is to build a vehicle with four rotors that allow it to take to the air anywhere like a helicopter - and then switch to fly like a normal plane. While this ‘SkyCruiser’ vehicle is still some way from development, the technology could soon become a reality in a functioning prototype dubbed the ‘SkyProwler’. The SkyProwler has four horizontal propellers that allow it to perform vertical take-offs and landings, and to hover in mid-air. ‘We are thrilled to have accomplished all of our flight test goals without encountering any significant technical issues,’ said AFRL Program Manager Pete Flick, from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. ‘These flights cap 17 years of technology maturation, beginning with AFRL’s initial Phase 1 SBIR contract with FlexSys, and the technology now is ready to dramatically improve aircraft efficiency for the Air Force and the commercial aviation industry.’ The technology can be fitted to existing airplane wings, so it does not require a complete redesign of current aircraft wings. ‘The completion of this flight test campaign at Armstrong is a big step for Nasa's Environmentally Responsible Aviation Project,’ said ERA project manager Fay Collier. ‘This is the first of eight large-scale integrated technology demonstrations ERA is finishing up this year that are designed to reduce the impact of aviation on the environment.’ It will take years for such a technology to be approved for commercial aircraft, though, so it’s unlikely to be used on planes any time soon. But the cost and fuel economy benefits will be appealing to many if testing continues smoothly.
target: Nasa has been testing a flexible wing on a plane in California .
  The wing can bend from -2 degrees up to 30 degrees .
  Technology means that regular flaps aren't needed - and it is much lighter .
  It could increase fuel efficiency 12% and reduce noise 40% .