Mad (Flt) Scientist,
I personally know Joe Clark, President of Aviation Partners Boeing, I will ask him what he thinks of your claims. I will get back to you. The winglet accomplishes no work on its own without the work of the rest of the aircraft so for you to say the winglet actually produces thrust is either nieve or you just plan do not know what you are talking about. Now the winglet for sure allows the airplane to perform more efficiently, but that is all. By efficiently, I mean climbs better and requires less thrust on approach. The also allow you to reduce throttle in cruise and get the same speed. But if you take the drag reduction equation out, the winglets will not make the airplane faster.
