Winglets
 

When one considers the advances made in aviation over the last 50 years, why has it taken so long for manufacturers to include winglets?

I admire progress but, at the same time, wish to know what underlying factor prevented the installation many years ago?

Regards

Pretty much for the same reasons we didn't have powered flight in 1850... or why it took Columbus to 1492 to sail to America even though he could have done it earlier. Someones gotta think of it and do it before it happens. :)

Besides, fuel was cheaper and there were other, simpler ways of improving the efficiency.

Cheers,
Fred

Winglets are also a pretty specific solution to a small group of issues, not a panacea for the ills of aviation.

Some classes of aircraft will NEVER have winglets as part of a sensible design; until the designs and roles evolved to where they were a possible solution, they made no sense (even if someone had thought of them).