Howard Hughes
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2007
- Posts
- 134
Anybody know if Delta is getting these? If they earn their money back so quickly why wouldnt every airline manager order them?
Aviation Technology Achievement
Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets
The design of any transport aircraft reflects a number of engineering compromises and tradeoffs intended to achieve the optimal blend of takeoff and cruise performance, operating economics, reliability and maintainability. An additional half-a-percentage-point improvement in any of those areas may mean the difference between a winning platform and an also-ran. That's what makes Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets such a towering accomplishment. Aircraft so equipped enjoy a significant reduction in fuel burn, improved operational performance and reduced maintenance cost. And because lowering fuel burn also reduces harmful emissions, they are good for the environment at a time when the pressure on airlines to become greener never has been greater. They also look great, adding "curb appeal" to any jet.
Founded in 1991 by Joe Clark and Dennis Washington, Aviation Partners' first project was a blended winglet for the Gulfstream II business jet and today more than 75% of G2s have been upgraded. Given its location in Seattle and its mainly ex-Boeing engineering staff, a joint venture agreement with Boeing to design a blended winglet for the Boeing Business Jet appeared to be a natural and Aviation Partners Boeing was born. That JV has evolved into winglets for the 737NG series, 757 and 737-300 and unannounced launch customers are in place for the 767-300ER, MD-80 and 777-200.
The 737 winglet reduces lift-induced drag and provides extra lift, with the design credited to Louis Gratzer, formerly chief of aerodynamics at Boeing. As the company explains, the aerodynamic advantage of a blended winglet is in the transition from the existing wingtip to the vertical winglet, allowing "for the chord distribution to change smoothly from the wingtip to the winglet, which optimizes the distribution of the span load lift and minimizes any aerodynamic interference or airflow separation."
Blended winglets provide operational and economic benefits to 737NG customers. Mission block fuel is improved by approximately 4%, while range capability is increased by as much as 130 nm. for the 737-800. The reduction in takeoff flap drag during the second segment of climb allows increased payload capability at takeoff-limited airports. Environmental benefits include a 6.5% lowering of noise levels around airports on takeoff and a 4% reduction in nitrogen dioxide emissions on a 2,000-nm. flight. On a typical North American transcontinental flight, the savings for a winglet-equipped 737-800 amount to 150 gal., adding up to more than 100,000 gal. over a year of operations.
The devices are built by Kawasaki in Japan using its proprietary KMS-6115 composite material containing high-performance carbon fibers and toughened epoxy resin. The first commercial application was in May 2001 with Hapag-Lloyd Flug. Such is their value that 85% of new 737NGs now are equipped with the devices and they have been retrofitted to 55% of the in-service 737-700/-800 fleet.
But the story doesn't end there. The winglets also have been retrofitted to 737-300s and 757s. According to launch customer Continental Airlines, the 757 installation is the most significant Blended Winglet program ever: "With this technology, Boeing 757-200 operators will experience block fuel improvement of up to 5%, saving as much as 300,000 gallons per aircraft per year." Other customers include Northwest Airlines, Icelandair and American Airlines. Clark says the 757 program "will translate into about 180 million gallons in annual fuel savings when the entire fleet of 757-200s is upgraded."
Citing the potential of the massive savings produced by the technology, the company says, "if every Boeing aircraft were retrofitted with Blended Winglet systems, the worldwide fuel savings would be close to 1.8 billion gallons a year."
This deceptively simple-looking yet elegant solution has played a major role in helping many airlines manage today's sky-high fuel prices and Aviation Partners Boeing is highly deserving of our Technology Achievement Award.
Aviation Technology Achievement
Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets
The design of any transport aircraft reflects a number of engineering compromises and tradeoffs intended to achieve the optimal blend of takeoff and cruise performance, operating economics, reliability and maintainability. An additional half-a-percentage-point improvement in any of those areas may mean the difference between a winning platform and an also-ran. That's what makes Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets such a towering accomplishment. Aircraft so equipped enjoy a significant reduction in fuel burn, improved operational performance and reduced maintenance cost. And because lowering fuel burn also reduces harmful emissions, they are good for the environment at a time when the pressure on airlines to become greener never has been greater. They also look great, adding "curb appeal" to any jet.
Founded in 1991 by Joe Clark and Dennis Washington, Aviation Partners' first project was a blended winglet for the Gulfstream II business jet and today more than 75% of G2s have been upgraded. Given its location in Seattle and its mainly ex-Boeing engineering staff, a joint venture agreement with Boeing to design a blended winglet for the Boeing Business Jet appeared to be a natural and Aviation Partners Boeing was born. That JV has evolved into winglets for the 737NG series, 757 and 737-300 and unannounced launch customers are in place for the 767-300ER, MD-80 and 777-200.
The 737 winglet reduces lift-induced drag and provides extra lift, with the design credited to Louis Gratzer, formerly chief of aerodynamics at Boeing. As the company explains, the aerodynamic advantage of a blended winglet is in the transition from the existing wingtip to the vertical winglet, allowing "for the chord distribution to change smoothly from the wingtip to the winglet, which optimizes the distribution of the span load lift and minimizes any aerodynamic interference or airflow separation."
Blended winglets provide operational and economic benefits to 737NG customers. Mission block fuel is improved by approximately 4%, while range capability is increased by as much as 130 nm. for the 737-800. The reduction in takeoff flap drag during the second segment of climb allows increased payload capability at takeoff-limited airports. Environmental benefits include a 6.5% lowering of noise levels around airports on takeoff and a 4% reduction in nitrogen dioxide emissions on a 2,000-nm. flight. On a typical North American transcontinental flight, the savings for a winglet-equipped 737-800 amount to 150 gal., adding up to more than 100,000 gal. over a year of operations.
The devices are built by Kawasaki in Japan using its proprietary KMS-6115 composite material containing high-performance carbon fibers and toughened epoxy resin. The first commercial application was in May 2001 with Hapag-Lloyd Flug. Such is their value that 85% of new 737NGs now are equipped with the devices and they have been retrofitted to 55% of the in-service 737-700/-800 fleet.
But the story doesn't end there. The winglets also have been retrofitted to 737-300s and 757s. According to launch customer Continental Airlines, the 757 installation is the most significant Blended Winglet program ever: "With this technology, Boeing 757-200 operators will experience block fuel improvement of up to 5%, saving as much as 300,000 gallons per aircraft per year." Other customers include Northwest Airlines, Icelandair and American Airlines. Clark says the 757 program "will translate into about 180 million gallons in annual fuel savings when the entire fleet of 757-200s is upgraded."
Citing the potential of the massive savings produced by the technology, the company says, "if every Boeing aircraft were retrofitted with Blended Winglet systems, the worldwide fuel savings would be close to 1.8 billion gallons a year."
This deceptively simple-looking yet elegant solution has played a major role in helping many airlines manage today's sky-high fuel prices and Aviation Partners Boeing is highly deserving of our Technology Achievement Award.
