PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Late model Boeings - why no winglets?
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Old 5th November 2003 | 08:08
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Groaner
 
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: sydney
Blended winglets (the smooth curvy ones) are designed and sold by Aviation Partners, who Boeing have a shareholding in. They have some patented design stuff on the winglets. They sell them to airlines both as customer-furnished equipment which Boeing then installs on the production aircraft, or as retrofits for later installation.

They've only so far done blended winglets for -700s and -800s, and are trying to get the -300's certified.

I heard they are looking at other types (MD-80s), and then maybe widebodies.

Apparently the blended winglets are a lot better than "normal" wing-ends, and somewhat better than "kinky" winglets (in fuel efficiency, maintenance savings due to reduced engine thrust, and in obstacle-limited or short airfields). So we might see them on 777s yet, but probably not for a long time. Maybe 767-300s first.
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