What Are Winglets and How Do They Improve Aircraft Performance?

[Cyrus]

I found this cool little page on winglets, but I haven't had time to read it yet:

http://www.b737.org.uk/winglets.htm

 

[Danger]

I don't have time to read it right now either, but that's a cool link. Thanks, Cyrus.

 

[herpamad]

I have read it before, and most the site too, plus i own the book.

There is similar information in the airbus 319/20/21 documentation too, but there winglets are a little different, and i have never read which one works better if any?

There are some great testing videos from boeing on the research, they fitted winglets to B727 and B707and flew it through some sort of smoke rig.

I am sure i have seen some other footage too of normal wings going through the same rig, and that was a Mil Boeing, KC-135 i think.

When i was young i noticed a B727 with winglets and thought it was some sort of coolness statement, years later i realized what they was really there for.

Here is another link that i have read too, more reading...

http://www.aviationpartnersboeing.com/news/pdf/news/AT69winglets.pdf

http://www.enviro.aero/blog/2008/09/the-wind-beneath-our-winglets.html

 

[mgb_phys]

When i was young i noticed a B727 with winglets and thought it was some sort of coolness statement, years later i realized what they was really there for.

Stopping mechanics falling off the ends of the wings

 

[herpamad]

=) i guess they have multiple uses... Styling for your aircraft that saves fuel, and stops mechanics falling off the ends...

I think its amazing how these little things can do so much.

There was an hour episode on BBC2 a month or so back about winglets, aerofoils and aircraft dynamics, something to do with open uni and richard hammond, was pretty interesting...

 

[Danger]

Stopping mechanics falling off the ends of the wings

 

[djeitnstine]

Thanks for the site. Great read =]