Split scimitar winglet 737-8

[UAVop]

Found this image from yesterday at Paine Field...

NOT a 737-MAX, but an 800....

EDIT: In addition to the United ac, looks like the SW aircraft has a set as well, partially installed.

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/5/0/4/2286405.jpg

[Denti]

No, the southwest has the normal blended wing. Small differences in shape at the tip of the winglet.

By the way, don't confuse the split scimitar design developed by aviation partners with the advanced technology winglet of the MAX developed by boeing (or so they say).

[Tu.114]

Interesting picture. From this perspective, it seems that the "lower" winglet is parallel to the ground or even comes with a bit of anhedral? Also, the position light seems to be at the root of the lower winglet instead of the tip.

If so, and please forgive my scepticism, this probably is a magnet for ramp rash. A careless driver will see the vertical winglet as the outer boundary of the aircraft, it being painted in a bright color typically, while the lower one is usually looked at straight at the leading/trailing edge from his perspective and hardly visible. At night, the position of the light will do its part as well. Also, the vertical winglet has been known as the traditional outer limit of a wing. So I would not be surprised if the damage rate on those parts was rather high, at least initially.

[UAVop]

TU. I was thinking the same thing, looks like it will attract the wrong types...

not level with ground plane, but pointing down.

edit:
http://www.aviationpartnersboeing.com/images/slide_16.jpg

http://www.aviationpartnersboeing.com/images/product_737-900er_front.jpg?1371442269060

[sleeve of wizard]

A United Airlines Boeing 737-800, retrofitted with the new Split Scimitar winglet, launched its maiden test flight Tuesday in Everett, Wash. In January, United served as the launch customer for the innovative winglet when it made a firm commitment with Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) to retrofit its 737-800 fleet. In June, United announced its commitment to also retrofit its 737-900ER fleet.

[Espada III]

How does this new design improve the existing winglet design in terms of reducing drag?

[pudoc]

I am far from an aerodynamic minded person, but looking at this (http://www.b737.org.uk/images/atwinglets_diagram.jpg) picture...

It seems the new winglets increase the affective wing span, creating more lift. Then the lower part of the winglet is shorter which makes the lower part of the wing act smaller than the effective wing span above, giving less drag.

Just a guess. A genius will come along and correct me.

[UAVop]

The clear height from the ground to bottom of wingtip is about 13 feet clear. The bottom scimitar, from the dimensions is about 3 feet, giving about 10 foot clear.

I hope these are easily replaceable.

This is from the aviation partners website: I would have thought they would know better.

http://www.aviationpartners.com/images/slider/technology.jpg

[HazelNuts39]

When will we have three winglets at each wing tip?

[UAVop]

Hazel,

EDit: okay, I took down the Star Wars X wing fighter...

But here is todays image of the scimitar...

http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/51e6d362eab8ea3328000007/a-sword-like-attachment-for-planes-will-save-united-airlines-200-million-per-year.jpg

[MarBergi]

When will we have three winglets at each wing tip?


When all current aircraft have been fitted with these new winglets.

[Brenoch]

Does anyone know anything about x-wind limit with the split scimitar winglet? I heard someone mentioning 17 kts, surely, that couldn't be right, could it?