Moments In Flight
MSP N480WN
A blended winglet on a Southwest Boeing 737-700 series adds a little color to an otherwise gloomy day.
The concept and testing of these large wingtip extensions had been around since the mid-1980's but since their certification on the 737 Next Generation platform in 2001, they have become widespread in their use with rising fuel costs. Their purpose is to reduce the amount of induced drag, i.e., the type of drag caused by the lift of the wing itself. Airlines typically save about 3 percent in fuel with these which quickly adds up in a large fleet.
MSP N480WN
A blended winglet on a Southwest Boeing 737-700 series adds a little color to an otherwise gloomy day.
The concept and testing of these large wingtip extensions had been around since the mid-1980's but since their certification on the 737 Next Generation platform in 2001, they have become widespread in their use with rising fuel costs. Their purpose is to reduce the amount of induced drag, i.e., the type of drag caused by the lift of the wing itself. Airlines typically save about 3 percent in fuel with these which quickly adds up in a large fleet.