What is the best winglet design?
What is the best winglet design?
The shark fin-alike winglet was overall the most efficient design, followed shortly by the famous blended design found in many mid-sized airliners. The worst performing designs were surprisingly the fenced and spiroid designs, which had efficiencies on par with the wing without winglet.
Who designed the winglet?
engineer William E. Somerville
Wing end-plates In the United States, Scottish-born engineer William E. Somerville patented the first functional winglets in 1910. Somerville installed the devices on his early biplane and monoplane designs. Vincent Burnelli received US Patent no: 1,774,474 for his “Airfoil Control Means” on August 26, 1930.
How much does winglet cost?
Winglets cost anywhere from $500,000 for a 737 to more than $2 million for bigger planes. But the payoff can be rapid. Southwest Airlines estimates that it saves 54 million gallons of fuel every year thanks to equipping 93 percent of its fleet of 737s with winglets.
How many types of winglets are there?
There are 4 different types of winglets available for the 737 as follows: 737-200 Mini-Winglets. 737 Classic/NG Blended Winglets. 737 NG Split Scimitar Winglets.
Does 737 MAX have winglets?
Boeing is introducing the very latest in advanced winglet technology, the 737 MAX AT Winglet. In addition to the inward, upward and slightly forward lift components of the upper aerofoil, the new lower aerofoil generates a vertical lift component that is vectored away from the fuselage, and also slightly forward.
What are Boeing 737 winglets?
Winglets are added to the end of a plane’s wings to reduce drag and ultimately enable more efficient flight. They work by reducing a process known as vortex drag, caused by different air pressures converging at the tips of each wing and slowing the aircraft down.
What is the most efficient aircraft?
The most fuel-efficient airline was Norwegian Air Shuttle with 44 pax-km/L (2.27 L/100 km [104 mpg‑US] per passenger), thanks to its fuel-efficient Boeing 787-8, a high 85% passenger load factor and a high density of 1.36 seat/m2 due to a low 9% premium seating.
What are Boeing 737 wings made of?
Wing upper skin, spars & beams – Aluminium alloy 7178 (Aluminium, zinc, magnesium & copper) – High compressive strength to weight ratio. Landing gear beam – Aluminium alloy 7175 (Aluminium, zinc, magnesium & copper) – A very tough, very high tensile strength alloy.
What is the best airplane wing design?
The elliptical wing is aerodynamically most efficient because elliptical spanwise lift distribution induces the lowest possible drag.