Airbus Tests New A320 Family Winglets

[BoeingBoy]

Here are pictures of the first of two new winglet designs being tested by Airbus on the A320 series.

Jim

Article w/ Pictures

 

[Dont call me Shirley]

Maybe we will see them at US one these days. On the topic of winglets, any word on whether US is looking at winglet retrofits for the 757's?
(Sorry if that has already been covered in another thread.)

 

[USFlyer]

I have a naive question: What exactly do winglets do that causes them to increase a plane's performance?

 

[BoeingBoy]

Wings produce lift because the air pressure is higher underneath than above the wing. Ever watch a plane landing on a very humid or foggy day and see the vapor trails curling from the wingtips? That is caused by air "spilling" around the tip of the wing from the higher pressure area below to the lower pressure area above the wing. The forward motion of the plane is what gives it that vortex effect.

Winglets decrease the amount of "spillage" of the high pressure air underneath. In effect (and vastly oversimplified), they trick the airflow into thinking the wing is longer than it is. "Spill" less of the higher pressure air under the wing and you don't have to produce as much to start with to get the desired lift. Producing that air pressure differential causes drag, so producing less causes less drag.

Jim

 

[algflyr]

Wow. It looks just like an E-170. If we retrofit our busses, it sure will make it hard to tell these from the 190's...

 

[BoeingBoy]

Naw, Piney.....

When pilots don't have enough experience to get their wings, they have winglets - sorta like pigs vs piglets.....



Jim