They are called static wicks, or static dischargers, and they actually have a very important function. Deals of the Week. In the know quiz. Sign Up. Log In. My account. Sign Out; National.

For something so important, it's a deceptively low-profile piece of equipment: a handful of small metal rods on the wings known as static wicks. Read more: 12 WD-40 Hacks You'll Wish You Knew Sooner ...

Thankfully, the aviation industry had figured out a solution long ago: the static discharge wick. The static discharge wick — often just called the static wick today — was invented in the 1940s.

They are called static wicks, or static dischargers, and they actually have a very important function. Read Today's Paper Tributes. Rewards. Subscribe. Sign In. Read Today's Paper; My account.

Static wicks go a long way toward keeping a plane safe in flight, though they can start to fray with time, particularly from repeated exposure to the elements.