In recent decades, the entire aviation industry has focused on making aircraft operations more efficient, including significant advances in reducing operating costs for operators.
In this sense, when spotting an airplane or during a trip through the window, you may have come across a kind of fold at the tip of each wing, but after all, what is this item present in some aircraft for?
Contrary to what many imagine to be a part to make aircraft more aesthetically attractive, the use of winglets has become an important ally for airlines in operating economics.
Knowing that for an airplane to stay in the air, a pressure difference is necessary in the lower (intrados) and upper (extrados) parts of the wings, these tips called winglets serve to balance the difference in intrados pressure, which is greater than the extrados, causing that the winglets compensate the pressure difference when the air below tries to to the upper part of the wing, generating a kind of vortex at the tips of the wings.
With greater resistance in the air during take-off, also known as induced drag, this phenomenon means that the aircraft has to give more power to the engines to maintain or fly more inclined to maintain the desired speed, it is at this time that the The winglet's aerodynamic shape acts to reduce pressure differences, and thus less air resistance.
Depending on the aircraft model and winglets installed, it is possible to save a significant amount of up to 5% compared to other aircraft without the item installed, also resulting in savings in the consumption of gallons of fuel depending on the size of the fleet.
As a result, some companies take advantage of the installation of these props to promote the company's brand or even to highlight a special personalization of painting, as is the case of Azul Linhas Aéreas, which prints on the Winglets (Sharklets) with the charismatic Disney characters in its fleet magic.
In the case of Airbus aircraft, the same item is called Sharklets due to different patents and manufacturers of aerodynamic parts.
Discover the models of Winglets already produced:
-
Mini Winglets
Perhaps this is the rarest winglet model to be seen in world aviation, it is part of the Quiet Wing Corp flap modification kit, which obtained FAA certification in 2005.
Benefits include:
- Increased payload by up to 2200 kg in large planes that until then were without winglets;
- Fuel savings of up to 3%;
- Improved takeoff/landing performance;
- Reduced takeoff/landing field length;
- Improved high-altitude take-off/landing capability;
- Better hot weather performance;
- Stall speeds reduced by 4 to 5 kts.
-
“Conventional” Blended Winglet
the first winglet "conventional" was fitted to the Boeing 737-300 that first flew in November 2002 and gained its FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) on May 30, 2003. Classic 737s equipped with winglets are certified as Special Performance.
Winglets have the potential to offer the following benefits:
- Improved rate of climb, this will allow for higher RTOW (Takeoff Weight) at airports with limited climb (hot, loud or noise reduction) or on runways with limited obstacles.
- Reduced climbing thrust. An aircraft equipped with a winglet can typically experience a 3% reduction in thrust over the equivalent aircraft without a winglet. This can extend engine life and reduce maintenance costs.
- Environmentally friendly. The reduction, if taken, will reduce the noise footprint by 6,5% and NOx emissions by 5%. This could generate savings in noise quotas or fines at airports.
- Reduced cruise thrust. Cruising fuel flow is reduced by up to 6%, saving fuel costs and increasing range.
- Improved cruise performance. Winglets can allow aircraft to reach higher flight levels sooner. Air Berlin notes: “Previously, we climbed from 35.000 to 41.000 feet. With Blended Winglets, we can now go straight up to 41.000 feet, where traffic congestion is much less and we can take advantage of direct routes and shortcuts that we might not otherwise consider.”
- Good looking. Winglets bring a modern look to aircraft and improve customers' perception of the airline.
About 85% of all new NG-series 737s are built with winglets, particularly the 800 and 900 series.
-
Split Scimitar Winglet
The new winglet concept gained a bigger name and more benefits, this new type of winglet brings up to 1% savings in spending on aviation kerosene. It allows the aircraft to have a greater cargo volume and also increases its flight range.
The word Split refers to two pieces or two parts, and the word Scimitar has the meaning of "scimitar" which is an Arabian sword that resembles this winglet model. It also served as a basis for studies and experiments on the winglet currently used on the new generation Boeing 737 MAX.
The first to be equipped was a United Airlines Boeing 737-800 that were developed by Joe Clark's Aviation Partners, the Boeing took off on its first test flight on July 16, 2013.
“The next-generation Split Scimitar 737 Winglet will provide a natural buffer against rising fuel prices while reducing carbon emissions,” says Ron Baur, vice president of fleet for United Airlines at the time.
In Brazil, only GOL operates aircraft of the 737 family, some already have the Split Scimitar and preferably operated flights to the USA in the absence of the 737 MAX.
-
Winglet AT MAX – From the 737 MAX
Boeing developed and built in partnership with GKN and Korean Air Aerospace Division and is installing its own winglets for the 737 MAX family. THE "advanced technology" combines state-of-the-art rake winglets with a dual-scythe winglet concept in an advanced treatment for the 737 MAX wings. Using what are called 'Natural Laminar Flow Technology'.
AT Winglets measure approximately 8 feet (2,43m) from the root to the top of the winglet and a total of 9 feet (about 2,74m) 7 inches (17,78cm) from the bottom of the bottom tip to the top of the top tip. . The top portion is 8 feet 3 inches and the bottom is 4 feet 5,8 inches. The ground clearance of the bottom tip is 10 feet (3,04 m) 2 inches.
Executive planes also win like the Gulfstream and Bombardier Global and even larger aircraft like the Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 received winglets, McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and now the Boeing 777X comes with a new concept, which we will talk about in another article.
With information: The Boeing 737 Technical Site
