The search for improved aerodynamics, and it's twin-sister, improved fuel efficiency, is as old as powered flight itself. Aerodynamic efficiency leads to faster speeds, greater payloads, and if done correctly, lower fuel burn. And, in case anyone was asleep during Business 101, less fuel burn means more money in your pocket.
Enter the Scimitar Winglet.
Similar in concept to the wingtip of an MD-11 (only much more pronounced), the design was expected to be seen first on the soon to go into production Boeing 737 MAX. Well, United Airlines, and its corporate bean-counters, saw things in a more immediate economic sense. With a large fleet of 737's already in service, Aviation Partners latest offering could really save a lot of fuel, and thus, a whole lot of money in the long run. Neat stuff.
From United Airlines: "The new Winglet design further reduces aircraft drag, compared with the basic "blended winglet" United uses on its current fleet. The new design will reduce fuel consumption by up to an additional 2 percent per aircraft, and United plans to retrofit its 737-800 and 737-900ER aircraft with the new Winglet."
Winglets
reduce drag on the wing which helps the airplane burn less fuel. We
expect the new Split Scimitar winglet to result in up to an additional
2% fuel savings for the 737. Once the Split Scimitar winglets are
installed, APB estimates that the combined winglet technology on our
737s followed by our 757 and 767 fleets will save us more than $250
million per year in jet fuel costs.
"Fuel
is our largest, most volatile expense and we are always looking for
opportunities to improve the fuel efficiency of our fleet,” said Fleet
VP Ron Baur. “The Next-Generation 737 Split Scimitar Winglet will
provide a natural hedge against rising fuel prices while simultaneously
reducing carbon emissions."
Read more at https://hub.united.com/en-us/News/Company-Operations/Pages/new-winglets-planned-for-united-737ng.aspx#dvsCtmXVpsyruFW0.99
Winglets
reduce drag on the wing which helps the airplane burn less fuel. We
expect the new Split Scimitar winglet to result in up to an additional
2% fuel savings for the 737. Once the Split Scimitar winglets are
installed, APB estimates that the combined winglet technology on our
737s followed by our 757 and 767 fleets will save us more than $250
million per year in jet fuel costs.
"Fuel
is our largest, most volatile expense and we are always looking for
opportunities to improve the fuel efficiency of our fleet,” said Fleet
VP Ron Baur. “The Next-Generation 737 Split Scimitar Winglet will
provide a natural hedge against rising fuel prices while simultaneously
reducing carbon emissions."
Read more at https://hub.united.com/en-us/News/Company-Operations/Pages/new-winglets-planned-for-united-737ng.aspx#dvsCtmXVpsyruFW0.99
Winglets
reduce drag on the wing which helps the airplane burn less fuel. We
expect the new Split Scimitar winglet to result in up to an additional
2% fuel savings for the 737. Once the Split Scimitar winglets are
installed, APB estimates that the combined winglet technology on our
737s followed by our 757 and 767 fleets will save us more than $250
million per year in jet fuel costs.
"Fuel
is our largest, most volatile expense and we are always looking for
opportunities to improve the fuel efficiency of our fleet,” said Fleet
VP Ron Baur. “The Next-Generation 737 Split Scimitar Winglet will
provide a natural hedge against rising fuel prices while simultaneously
reducing carbon emissions."
Read more at https://hub.united.com/en-us/News/Company-Operations/Pages/new-winglets-planned-for-united-737ng.aspx#dvsCtmXVpsyruFW0.99
The word is that United also plans to equip their fleets of Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft with Scimitar Winglets, as well.
Shot location: IAH (Photos courtesy of our Texas Smartphone Division)
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