Winglets... The Ultimate AvGeek Guide

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Winglets… The Ultimate AvGeek Guide
// Revista de prensa aeronáutica: Feed de feeds de Revistas Aeronáuticas | recopiladas por www.noticias-aero.info

What better photo than a winglet & Pacific Northwest icon Mt. Rainier?

During the recent Aviation Geek Fest, a reader of AirlineReporter suggested that I do a bit of a roundup of all the different "winglets" that are out in the aviation world (I wish I remembered you name).  With so many different kinds of wingtip devices out in the marketplace, there needs to be a handy guide as to what they all are and what aircraft they belong to.  But first maybe a little bit of background on what a winglet actually does.

In the late 1970′s, NASA engineer Richard T. Whitcomb took some research from the 1950′s and further developed what we know as the winglet.  NASA wanted to see what would happen if they were to create a wingtip device that, with the correct angle and shape, could help reduce drag and increase lift, and also help break up the wingtip vortices.

Getting these benefits from the wing helps make flying easier and increases fuel efficiency – something that back in the 70′s wasn't as crucial as it is now.  How much fuel can you save by adding a winglet?  On average, a 737 can save around 4% when compared to a non-winglet version.  A winglet is really designed to save money when flying long distances at high altitudes, so long flights are where the most savings are realized.

A Wind Jet Airbus A320 sporting a wingtip fence – Photo: Daniel Blok | Flickr CC

The three most common types of wingtip devices are winglets, blended winglets, and wingtip fences.  The first real foray into the winglet arena for commercial aviation was the "wingtip fence".  A signature Airbus item, these familiar wing accoutrements can be seen just about everywhere in the USA.

Found on every A310, A380, and the majority of the A320-family in the world, if you have flown on an Airbus in the United States (and the world), good chance is if you have looked out the window, you have seen one.   These wingtip fences are becoming more of a rarity on Airbus aircraft these days, as newer A320-family models are being fitted with the "sharklet" (more to come on that soon).  The first aircraft to get a winglet was not a commercial aircraft, but a Rutan Varieze, hitting the market in 1975; from that moment on, things were set to change.

Brand-new United Airlines Boeing 747-400 (N174UA) at Paine Field in 1989 – Photo: Dave@YVR

In 1988, Boeing introduced an upgrade to the 747 line.  The 400-series model went into production as the first large commercial aircraft with a winglet.  By giving it the unique upturned wingtips, this change became the easiest way to tell the 747 models apart.  Pretty soon others were following.  The CRJ series of regional jets added them, and Airbus adopted the same winglet design in the 90′s with the A330 & A340.

These winglets are small and look more like someone has grabbed the end of the wing and just folded them up. With the latest 747-8 models though, Boeing has removed the winglets in favor of raked wingtips, similar to the 777 & 787.  A raked wingtip needs to be designed from scratch so only newer aircraft will be seen with these slender looking tips.  The raked wingtip gives almost similar performance enhancements to its winglet brethren, but in a more sexy, lower weight package, as the biggest difference between the winglet and the raked wingtip is the reduced weight.  Without so much of the extra weight the revised shape has the same, if not better, benefits.

The raked wingtip on this Boeing 777 shows that you can still get an efficient wing design without the need of a winglet

When Boeing decided to revamp the 737 for the Next Generation model (600,700,800, and 900) they wanted to make some changes that would bring increased efficiency.  Boeing came up with a new design and called it the "blended winglet".  Rather than an abrupt and sharp change up, like the winglets on the 747-400, by curving the gently and raising upwards they could get the increased benefits without needing giant wings.

These blended winglets, unlike a raked wingtip or the original winglets, could actually be retrofitted to existing aircraft so they became optional to begin with, and then standard on newer aircraft.  Even older classic model 737s (300,400,500) have been retrofitted with the blended winglet.

Then Boeing had a thought – could we put these retrofitted winglets on other aircraft?  Yep!  Enter the 757 and 767-model blended winglets.  These medium and wide-body aircraft could be fitted with giant winglets (a 767 blended winglet is over 11ft tall!) and now get these game-changing benefits.

Sooner or later, similar style winglets started popping up all over the place. Embraer had a similar design on their E170/190 family jets and then Airbus came to the party for the A320 family.  Airbus could not call it a winglet; it just had to be different and since their design was unique to the A320 family, they called it a "sharklet" (but we all know its a winglet, right?).  New model A320-series aircraft are coming out of the factory fitted with sharklets which, like the blended winglet, can be retrofitted to existing aircraft as well.

The blended winglets on this Condor 767 are over 11ft tall! Photo: Aero Icarus | Flickr CC

With blended winglets, sharklets, or fences so common to the everyday traveler, there are a two more winglets that are quite bizarre and strange.  The first is the new Boeing "Advanced Technology Winglet".  Destined to be fitted to the new 737 MAX, Boeing claims that it will increase fuel efficiency 1.5% greater than what the current blended winglet will provide.  

It sports a strange design that helps to double the wingspan as there is an upper and lower winglet.  By mixing the raked wingtip design into what they refer as a "Dual Feather Wingtip Design" you come up with this unique looking winglet.

The new Advance Technology Winglet that will go on the Boeing 737 MAX – Photo: David Parker Brown | AirlineReporter

The last device takes some concepts from the new winglet used for the MAX, and combines it with the blended winglet.  The new Split Scimitar Winglet uses the existing blended winglet, and adds another winglet below it, to help increase that surface area and bring greater efficiencies to the existing winglet that is seen throughout the world today.  Already in the sky fitted to a United 737-800, the new scimitar winglet will start to become more common as aircraft are retrofitted with the new design.

A close-up look at the new Split Scimitar Winglet – Photo: United Airlines

With all the different designs in the sky today, hopefully the above handy little guide will help you understand what a winglet is and how you can tell a Blended from a Scimitar.  Maybe you can impress your friends by correcting them when they call a Sharklet a winglet.

Malcolm Muir – Managing Correspondent

Mal is an Australian AvGeek now living and working in Seattle. With a passion for aircraft photography, traveling and the fun that combining the two can bring. Insights into the aviation world with a bit of a perspective thanks to working in the travel industry.

@BigMalX | BigMal's World | Photos

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