For those of you who read Gordon's post about bees, you will remember he mentioned winglets. One of our Customers recently sent us these stunning inflight views of these fuel-saving devices, and we thought that they would give you a big lift! Thanks to Paul von Heeder in Dallas for sharing these with us!
Comments
Winglets are just one way in which airlines can save fuel.
Please go to my Blog and view other ways that airlines can Trim minutes off each flight leg by utilizing tailored Line Selectable FMC CDU approaches that overlie current Non precision approaches, Circling to Land & Charted Visual approaches...i.e Expressway Visual Approach La Guardia KLGA/LGA.
I, too, enjoy the humor of flight attendants on southwest. I can never remember all of the funny comments after I leave the plane. Is there a sight w/some of the comments that I could access? I am a teacher and think some of these comments could be used in the classroom for attention getters.
JET Engineering just introduced their MD-80 Winglet at Farnborough, and say's they'll be available by next year for $695,000, with a 5-6% savings on fuel consumption.
Passengers often ask us if the wing is bent...I love explaining blended winglets to them and how they save us fuel!
Catherine, some airlines (American and Continental) are putting winglets on Boeing 757s. The 747-400 models all have them too. The newer Boeing 777 doesn't get much benefit from winglets because of the very efficient shape of its wing. The new 767-400 also doesn't need them - those have a raked-back wingtip and allegedly, the design for the new Boeing 787 will include raked wingtips. I've also seen some old Boeing 727s retrofitted with winglets (and newer engines). Probably the only plane that will never see winglets is the MD-80.
My understanding of the blended winglets is, and this is why not all new Boeing 737's have them, is that the fuel savings does not offset the additional weight of the winglets themselves and the additional cost (I seem to recall they cost something like $500,000 a set) on shorter flights, such as DAL-HOU flights for example. Of course, with the increased priced of fuel, they are viable for shorter flights than previously, but I don't know if they are a positive net benefit on all Southwest flights yet.
anyone who would like more info can click here.
http://www.b737.org.uk/winglets.htm
Was wondering how long it would be before the larger airlines put these on their crafts. For those of us GA pilots who fly and own small aircraft, we know that these "wing kits", otherwise known as Vortex Generators, help stabilize aircraft. I have them on mine, although they point downwards. Makes it a bit harder to stall the craft, which is what we want.
Yes,Lisa they can help smooth out the ride. Unless you sit in the very back like we did. Quite bouncy back there!
Hello,
Sooooooo....the winglets have nothing to do with a smoother, more aerodynamic flight? My S.O. told me that but now I'm reading different. Yay or Nay? Just curious...