system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Star Wars] What is the point of the wings wings separating?

As well as the fins that open on the Jedi's ships in the third movie. 

Does this offer anything? Or is it just for effect?
gpt
Are you talking about things like the X-Wing s-foils? The flattened out position is more compact and better for storage and traveling. The attack position (when they actually look like an x) is to have the ships's guns as spread as as possible, giving it a wide field of fire.