Airbus Sharklets

[cowpatz]

The new sharklet fitted Airbus. A lot of hype for just winglets.

[Splitpin]

As you said CP " A lot of hype for just winglets."......but thanks anyway

[Charl]

Whitcomb Winglets have been around for 35 years... can't help feeling that Airbus and Boeing have been a little precious about adopting them.
Apparently they are prone to flutter, but properly designed give 5% drag improvement at cruise.
Not to be sniffed at - even if less greenhouse gas doesn't excite you, dollars in the pocket should.

[Naki]

Air NZ will be the first winglet A320 operator I believe

[cowpatz]

QUOTE (Naki @ Dec 15 2011,11:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Air NZ will be the first winglet A320 operator I believe

Correct.
Retro fitting winglets to the 767 provided an increase in fuel efficiency of over 6%. Certainly not to be sneered at in these price conscious times. Changed the flight dynamics too with much higher climb and descent speeds.

[connor]

At the end of the day it makes for a more efficient wing. A long story, short.

[cowpatz]

QUOTE (connor @ Dec 15 2011,12:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

At the end of the day it makes for a more efficient wing. A long story, short.

It certainly does for early design wings. You will notice that later aircraft don't have them- B777 onwards.

[brent01]

it still aint a boeing lolssss

[Ian Warren]

Just something to titalate the Joe public , lets follow Boeing,s example