Missing part of a wing isn't as bad as it sounds. When you loose part of a wing, you still have 3/4ths of your total wing area.
It does take alot of counterforce control to keep it flying though.
Wingtips are usually not designed to lift as much as the thicker root...that is why the root is thick. The wingtips generate less lift so the wing doesn't have to be beefy down its whole length, which is too much weight in structure for the benefit.
Still, graphically it looks like some planes loose too much of their wing. B-26s get my vote for a change to the break point right outboard of the engines before Corsairs. I once lost both wingtips in a B-26, but I couldn't stay airborn anymore. It did do wonders for stabalizing the pig though. I ditched it easy.
To illistrate my point, I have seen a picture of an Israeli F-15 that lost its ENTIRE right wing, and made it back to base. Granted, I think the fact he has more thrust than weight might have aided him somewhat, but still.
Hans.
