Wingtip devices are intended to improve the efficiency of fixed-wing aircraft by reducing drag. [1] . Although there are several types of wing tip devices which function in different manners, their intended effect is always to reduce an aircraft's drag.

Nov 2, 2023 · Winglets were wind tunnel tested and computer analyzed by Richard Whitcomb of the NASA Langley Research Center in the mid 1970’s. The idea behind the winglet is to reduce the strength of the tip vortex and therefore cause the flow across the wing to …

Mar 12, 2022 · What does a winglet do, besides make an airplane look cool? They're known to increase performance, increasing range and decreasing fuel burn, but why? Winglets oppose the drag wingtip vortices create by harnessing the vortices' airflow.

Jun 1, 2023 · Winglets are essentially aerodynamic performance enhancers. Their primary purpose is to improve aircraft performance by reducing aerodynamic drag. Drag degrades the aircraft’s performance, especially at high speeds and high altitudes where commercial airliners spend most of their time.

Sep 6, 2023 · Winglets are vertical extensions of wingtips that improve fuel efficiency and cruising range by reducing drag caused by vortices. The most popular types of winglets in commercial aviation are canted, blended, split-scimitar, and sharklets. Each type of winglet has its own specific design and benefits, with some being more efficient than others.

Mar 22, 2020 · Winglets (Eng. winglet «a small wing») represent a special aerodynamic form of the wingtip which is designed to reduce inductive resistance produced by the vortex coming from the wing tip. In order to understand the operation principle of winglets, it is necessary to look at the aerodynamics theory.

Winglets reduce wingtip vortices, the twin tornados formed by the difference between the pressure on the upper surface of an airplane's wing and that on the lower surface. High pressure on the...

Apr 7, 2025 · Airbus introduced its own refined winglet design, called a sharklet, in 2011. In addition to raked wingtips, Boeing also employs split-scimitar winglets, which can be found on the 737 MAX.

Jan 22, 2025 · Winglets are small upward-bending extensions located at the ends of commercial aircraft wings. These enhancements, which initially seemed insignificant, transformed modern aviation by boosting aerodynamic efficiency and decreasing fuel usage.

Jun 5, 2020 · Airplane winglets are the “baby wings” placed at an angle at the end of airplane wing. Most modern passenger jets have winglets. They became a staple of the aircraft industry the 1980’s when concern about oil prices pushed increased research into their feasibility.