SWA Winglets - It's Official!

[fokkerjet]

I am pretty sure that the G3/G2B were the first with winglets. And IMHO the G3 is still the best looking corporate aircraft

If you are talking business jets, I believe Lear claims the first with the Lear 28 (August, 1978). Gulfstream GIII's first flew in December, 1979, followed by the GIIB in March 1981 and now the GIISP (with Aviation Partner Boeing blended winglets).

From what I remember, Gulfstream stopped conversion of GII's to GIIB's because the -IIB's were a much better performer (and cheaper) than the -III because they were slightly smaller and lighter, with the same rated Spey engines that were on the -III.

 

[qxeplt]

Winglets are cool!!!

I got dubs on the winglet avatar....

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

**CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**..
I almost had it too..

Thats ok..
I will just put it on my desktop..

Its way cool in my book..

 

[CoopDog]

Good idea MLB!

Desktop....,Ah, excellent idea....it looks so nice. Now if I was just sitting in that right seat....

Some day soon.

 

[V1Cutt]

It is an excellent desktop background. Be sure to get the high resolution image from the link in the first post.

 

[Yahtzee]

Mike,

I know he's not a SWA 737-700, but I could hook you up with several shots of "UGA V"...There are plenty of SWA 737s on this board, but I've only seen two photos of "UGA".

Tell me that ain't the best looking mascot you've ever seen.

Yahtz

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

OK..

"It" aint!!
"It' looks like it could go a few rounds with Robert Shapiros plastic surgeon and have a few bags left over..

Mike

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

Re: Re: ATA took the lead

That's right...and I'll bet they paid WAY more for them than SWA did. The only reason we're finally getting them is because Boeing finally came down on the cost.

The real reason was that the cost of jet fuel has gone high enough and will continue to be high enough to justifiy the cost of winglets..At the lower prices it would have taken too long to realize a return on the investment..
Other items you may see come to SWA in way of improvements will be auto-throttles as well as full up "V"nav..

As for the question of the 300s/500s..Both models are long enough in the tooth to not be cost effective for a major improvement like winglets..Some folks will ask why we are putting the dual FMCs as well as the new flat panels in the 300s..

The very high cost of maintaining the steam gauges has made it cost effective to replace them with the panels and the second FMC allows us to take advantage of upcoming systems..

You very well may see the first 300 retired before that last 200 goes away..

Mike

 

[V1Cutt]

I was told in DAL last week that the price has dropped from close to $2 million per aircraft to $400K in the last 2 years. Patience pays off.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

I was told in DAL last week that the price has dropped from close to $2 million per aircraft to $400K in the last 2 years. Patience pays off.

But how more gas have you burned in those 2 years??????

 

[PTinbound]

But how more gas have you burned in those 2 years??????

Well, the press release says these things should save 92,000 gallons per airplane per year, so that's 184,000 gallons. At about .75 per gallon, that's about $138,000 in extra gas money they spent by not having these things two years ago.
But in the process, they saved $1.6 MILLION each by waiting.
I don't know about you, but I'm awfully glad these are the same guys who I hope will sign my paychecks someday!

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

That's a pretty good return on waiting.

The cost was probably less when ATA had them put on at the factory. The $2 mil must have been a retrofit price.

 

[flying@swa]

1st winglets....

were on the Lear 28/29... aka, "Longhorn" - Bill Lear saw the benefits in efficiency which boosted the range on the Lear 25. Was also the testbed for the Lear 55 wing.

Flyin'

 

[pa56pa]

awesome! kinda like the LR55 I flew... LOL

 

[SWA GUY]

Concerning the UGA mascot.....

Tell him to get a shave, he looks like Nixon's ass!!!

HC

 

[PTinbound]

But shave or not, I think he's gonna win that airplane!
Maybe SWA should have a dog on one of their airplanes.
But then they'd probably have to announce service to ATL, in which case we'd have to make an exception and let the General in on our little guessing game .

 

[Yahtzee]

Concerning the UGA mascot.....

Tell him to get a shave, he looks like Nixon's ass!!!
HC

SWA Guy,

Please tell me you've never seen Nixon's @$$. Now you've gone an given me a mental scar. Everytime I see UGA V, I'm gonna think "Did SWA Guy really see Nixon's backside?" LOL

Maybe SWA should have a dog on one of their airplanes.
HC

PT,

I like the way you're thinkin. And I truly appreciate you're making us wannabes feel welcome in your neighborhood with your contest. Without all the humor and encouragement from the poolies and folks at SWA, it would be much harder to wait for the day SWA interviews again. Thanks again for giving us hope!

Yahtz

 

[SWA GUY]

Yahtzee,

Well, to tell the truth, the line I wrote originally came from actor/comedian Chevy Chase.

Sorry about the plagerism,

HC

 

[Yahtzee]

SWA Guy,

You're forgiven, but I have to know if the line was in a movie or during a stand-up routine. And please realize I'll never be able to look at UGA V again without thinking of you, Nixon and Chevy Chase.


Yahtz

P.S. I know this is a stretch, but do you or Rightbettor have any odds SWA might name one of their planes after one of the UGAs?

 

[SWA GUY]

Yahtzee,

The line was from Chevy's roast.

Very slim odds on a Bulldog-lookin SWAcraft, hell we'd have to stop at every fire hydrant if we did paint one that way.

HC