Winglets and Wake Turbulence

[labbats]

After hearing about the AA 757s getting winglets, I started wondering if that will ease up on the wake turbulence they create. Anyone have a guess?

 

[minitour]

I'm gonna say no....but that's coming from a Cessna driver (172s)....

Why they going to winglets? Fuel efficiency?

-mini

 

[scoreboard]

I'm gonna say no....but that's coming from a Cessna driver (172s)....

Why they going to winglets? Fuel efficiency?

-mini

Well, I'd say the winglets increase aspect ratio and reduce drag as a result of vortices, so they reduce the vortices...

 

[Knob]

They may reduce the drag, look @ the difference between the 747-100 & the -400 though. Even with the winglets you better be a dot high on g/s when behind a -400!

 

[scoreboard]

They may reduce the drag, look @ the difference between the 747-100 & the -400 though. Even with the winglets you better be a dot high on g/s when behind a -400!

Well sure, but even though they redeuce vortices, still pay them head as I do. Winglets save 3-5% on fuel, so easy math says they reduce drag by that or less and hence the vortices are reduced by ONLY that 3-5%, so still be careful.

 

[PolarTwins55]

they will reduce the wake turbulence. wake turbulence is a function of weight and wingspan. If you increase the wingspan(add winglets), then the vortexes will be reduced.

 

[minitour]

Well, I'd say the winglets increase aspect ratio and reduce drag as a result of vortices, so they reduce the vortices...

yes, but the question "will it ease up on the wake turbulence?" I still say no.

Again, coming from a Cessna guy....my 172 isn't gonna just go "oh...winglets....smoooooooth flyin" I'm still gonna have to be (as was said) a dot higher on approach.

-mini

 

[AirBud]

There was an article about this 3 or 4 months ago. The wake on the 757 is reduced by something like 30% with the winglets.

Check out

http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/Concept2Reality/winglets.html

 

[MarineGrunt]

yes, but the question "will it ease up on the wake turbulence?" I still say no.

Again, coming from a Cessna guy....my 172 isn't gonna just go "oh...winglets....smoooooooth flyin" I'm still gonna have to be (as was said) a dot higher on approach.

-mini

Vortices = Wake Turbulence. As mentioned, winglets are designed to dampen vortices to give the effect of an increased aspect ratio, which means less induced drag. Less vorticies = less wake turbulence because they are the same thing. Now is it enough to make a difference to your 172 if you fly through the wake of a 757? I seriously doubt it....

 

[MarineGrunt]

There was an article about this 3 or 4 months ago. The wake on the 757 is reduced by something like 30% with the winglets.

Check out

http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/Concept2Reality/winglets.html

Aw! No fair! How come we don't have winglets on our 135's??? Those would look totally sweet with my Oakleys and overly-gelled spiked hair!