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I thought they tested that out a few years ago and said they wouldn't offer it? Dang.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mayi757
The only aircraft that received winglets that I didn't care for is the 757. Even still I'm not a huge fan.
On the 737 I like it a bit, but the 767 NEEDED it, I feel.
There was a recent picture of an A320 with them installed (think it was skyliners.de where I saw it) and didn't like it one bitQuote:
Originally Posted by Phil D.
-Hah look at that, to me the only one which looks ok, maybe even cool with winglets installed is precisely the 757. Never liked winglets on 737s especially the -700 which seem to big for the size of the plane. So far I've seen them on LAN and DL 767s and totally hate the look :mrgreen:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3428/...6e015251_b.jpg
I happened to be up at KPAE for a day of high speed taxi tests for the 787 and got a few pictures. I am a fan of the swept wing of the 787, though admit the 737NG wing tips are nothing exciting to me as far as looks, though I do enjoy what some airlines are doing with paint on the tips.
-Tad
Yeah, the paint they apply to the winglets make or break them. American's has the most potential I think, but falls short being somewhat boring. Same, and especially, with CO.
Virgin America's stars-and-stripes wingtip fences are my favorite.
If they put winglets on A320s that will be very disappointedQuote:
Originally Posted by Mayi757
Senga
i know they were tested, there are pix online of the tesbed a/c flying at TLS. they look horrible and from what i read didn't have the desired effect.Quote:
Originally Posted by SengaB
A Jetblue A320 had them on for testing.
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../7/1107758.jpg
Thank god they didn't go with that.
Senga
So they didn't work?!! what a shame.. :mrgreen:
The pic I saw was an all-white aircraft and I remember them larger, but maybe those were a different size or just looked bigger on a white plane. After seen that Jetblue shot to me they don't look as Star-Trek as they do on the 737. Take them off the 737s and put them on the A320 :lol:
Looks like Airbus and API have revived the testing last summer, it seems the performance gain was offset by the amount of weight needed to reinforce the wing. Interestingly Airbus admits to considering using electric motors for taxiing. The next Prius? 8)
Quote:
DATE:19/05/08
SOURCE:Flight International
Airbus to flight test Aviation Partners winglets on A320 in July
By Max Kingsley-Jones
Airbus has teamed up with Boeing's winglet supplier Aviation Partners to undertake a second evaluation of large winglets for the A320 family. Flight tests will begin in July on Airbus's A320 development aircraft.
"We will carry out a short flight-test programme of the API winglets," says A320 family programme executive vice-president Alain Flourens. "We aim to take a decision whether to proceed by the end of the year."
Flourens says that the airframer will strengthen the A320's wingtips for the test with doublers, and will examine the trade-off of the weight increase against the fuel burn benefits. There is also an ongoing weight reduction programme for the A320 that would help counter the strengthening, he adds.
The upgrade is being studied for new-build aircraft and for in-service retrofits.
Airbus undertook two evaluations of winglets for the A320 in 2006 - one designed in-house and one by US company Winglet Technology - with the target of finding "a couple of percent" performance gain. However at the time Airbus could not find sufficient improvement to offset the weight increase caused by the strengthening required.
As part of Airbus's drive to reduce fuel burn it is planning to undertake studies of an electric taxi device using an A320. "We are looking at installing electric motors in the wheels," says Flourens.
Airbus is in discussion with an undisclosed partner and could undertake a demonstration before the end of the year, adds Flourens. Either Airbus's flying testbed or the German DLR aircraft recently used for fuel cell tests will undergo the trial.
The test would be undertaken with electrical power from the auxiliary power unit. However, Flourens says that alternative power sources are being examined, such as fuel cell technology.