If you REALLY want to read about winglets...

[Doug Taylor]

Delta Air Lines to Install Winglets on Three Aircraft Types


Winglets expected to reduce fuel emissions and save millions in fuel cost

PARIS, June 19, 2007 – Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will continue to build on its international expansion by installing Blended Winglets on more than 60 Boeing 737-NG, 757-200 and 767-300ER aircraft types. The improvement will provide greater flexibility to serve more markets with existing aircraft, further enhancing the largest international expansion in Delta’s history. Blended winglets are wing tip devices that reduce drag thanks to improved aerodynamics, resulting in a reduction in fuel usage.

“Blended Winglets create an opportunity for us to improve both our operating and fuel efficiency simultaneously,” said Jim Whitehurst, Delta’s Chief Operating Officer. “We expect to see a minimum of 3.5 percent improvements in our fuel consumption and a minimum of 5 percent in our range thanks to this added technology. Our customers will benefit from Delta’s ability to offer more destinations, and Delta benefits from new efficiencies that will improve our operations and better the environment.”

Delta will have the winglets installed on 38 737-NGs, 10 757-200 and 15 767-300ER aircraft by Aviation Partners Boeing, with options to install on all aircraft in the three fleets. As a result, the 737-NG type aircraft, which is currently receiving 10 additional seats and a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system, will easily operate coast-to-coast. The 10 757-200 aircraft are being retrofitted with Delta’s award-winning Business Elite product as well as other international requirements and will be ideal aircraft for service between the Northeast region of the U.S. and Western Europe. The 767-300ER aircraft will realize both extended range and expanded payload capability which will open up new market possibilities for Delta’s customers and increase cargo sales opportunities.

“There is no doubt we will realize substantial savings thanks to reduced fuel burn as a result of the winglet installation,” continued Whitehurst. “But in addition to that, we’ll also be able to examine new market possibilities for our customers and add to our long list of environmental initiatives, which includes a 30-year history of focusing on fuel savings.”

“Blended Winglets are the perfect product at the perfect time for the fast-growing expansion of Delta’s international routes,” Aviation Partners Boeing CEO John Reimers said. “The significance of Delta committing to winglets for three aircraft types cannot be overstated.”

The winglet technology will provide Delta’s 757-200 aircraft with 200 nautical miles of additional range, or they can carry up to 49 additional passengers on 4,000 mile routes. The 767-300ER aircraft will gain more than 350 nautical miles in range, or 5.5 tons of payload. For an airline expanding its international presence, this type of improvement creates opportunities that otherwise would have had to wait for the development of new aircraft types.

Delta Air Lines offers customers service to more destinations than any global airline with Delta and Delta Connection carrier service to 332 destinations in 57 countries. With more than 60 new international routes introduced in the last year, Delta has added more international capacity than all other U.S. airlines combined and is the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 36 trans-Atlantic destinations. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers nearly 700 weekly flights to 63 destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on nearly 15,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 479 worldwide destinations in 105 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.

[Seggy]

All I gotta say is can anyone tell me an airplane that had winglets before the Beech 1900D*?

I am flying an airplane with a revolutionary aerodynamic design.

I LOVE it when I turn on the EFIS and it says "Copyright Rockwell Collins 1986"


*I could be wrong, but can't think of an airplane that had em before the mighty 1900

[NJA_Capt]

3.5% savings?

I imagine you could save 20% in fuel if the airlines lobbied the FAA to ban early descents from ATC and penalize ATC for excessive times to cruise altitude. It is very rare to make it to the TOD point at cruise altitude. There are some MAJOR fuel savings to be had by restructuring the arrival routes.

ATC: Cross 600nm E at FL200
Huh?!?!?!

Cost to modify ATC: $.00
Cost to modify aircraft: $.00

Originally Posted by Seggy

All I gotta say is can anyone tell me an airplane that had winglets before the Beech 1900D?

VariEze Homebuilt: 1976
Lear 28/29: 1979
Lear 31A: 1988
Beech 1900D: 1991

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Oh, it's already been broughten!

http://forums.jetcareers.com/general...-aircraft.html

[PGT]

slap the situational awareness on Doug on his own forum

[n57flyguy]

The jet I fly must have winglets. No question.

[seagull]

Originally Posted by Seggy

All I gotta say is can anyone tell me an airplane that had winglets before the Beech 1900D*?

I am flying an airplane with a revolutionary aerodynamic design.

I LOVE it when I turn on the EFIS and it says "Copyright Rockwell Collins 1986"


*I could be wrong, but can't think of an airplane that had em before the mighty 1900

The MD-11 was launched on Dec. 30, 1986. Assembly of the first unit began March 9, 1988. First flight was on Jan. 10, 1990. Certification occurred Nov. 8, 1990

[Seggy]

DOH! Nevermind!

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by Seggy

DOH! Nevermind!

Lol, you got pwned!

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

Lol, you got pwned!

Big time!

[NJA_Capt]

Gulfstream III 1979
Airbus A310-200, Began service between 1982-1985
Prototype Beech Starship 1983

Seggy,
How about 1st production EFIS?

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by NJA_Capt

Airbus A310-200, Began service between 1982-1985

Weeeeeellll....those were wing tip fences not winglets. Yea, I'm spliting hairs!

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by NJA_Capt

Seggy,
How about 1st production EFIS?

Maybe? I really have NO idea. I thought it is funny though that the 'hot' thing is winglets, but the 1900 had them for years.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by Seggy

Maybe? I really have NO idea. I thought it is funny though that the 'hot' thing is winglets, but the 1900 had them for years.

What's old is revolutionary once again!

[Snuggle]

Originally Posted by Seggy

I LOVE it when I turn on the EFIS and it says "Copyright Rockwell Collins 1986"

haha yea that made me laugh when I first heard it

[amorris311]

so are the winglets considered retro?

[NJA_Capt]

Originally Posted by amorris311

so are the winglets considered retro?

Nope. It's just lipstick on a pig.

Seggy, we have a winner:
http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/Concep.../winglets.html

Learjet Model 28/29, first production jet aircraft to utilize winglets.
The Model 28 prototype employed the first winglets ever used on a jet and a production aircraft, either civilian or military.

There is some excellent winglet history on the above link!

The Lear 28/29 may also be the first civilian jet certified to operate at FL510.

[PeanuckleCRJ]

I'll never forget when I was a new hire FO at Pinnacle and we were taxiing out behind a B1900. The CA looked over at me and said "ya know, I would not have wanted to be the test pilot that took the first B1900 up and returned from the flight saying 'Guys, we're going to need more fins on this thing.'"

[Fly4Pay]

Originally Posted by NJA_Capt

Seggy, we have a winner:
http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/Concep.../winglets.html

Yeah, but the good ol' tanker (KC-135) was the first to fly with 'em!
(NOW I'm gettin' back to my ROOTS!)

[NJA_Capt]

Originally Posted by Fly4Pay

Yeah, but the good ol' tanker was the first to fly with 'em!

It was the first "jet." but the first plane was a homebuilt.

" The first aircraft to fly with winglets was the propeller-driven Vari-Eze light homebuilt aircraft, designed in 1974 by Burt Rutan... "

http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/Concep.../winglets.html

[Velocipede]

Seggy,

I'm pretty sure the winglets, strakes and all the other crap hanging from the mighty 1900 was in response to attempting to make a King Air 200 into something it wasn't originally intended to be...not cutting edge technology.

That said, the King Air is still probably the best personal airplane AND the best multiengine conversion airframe going. I loved every minute of my King Air time in the Navy.

[Champcar]

Originally Posted by NJA_Capt

Gulfstream III 1979
Airbus A310-200, Began service between 1982-1985
Prototype Beech Starship 1983

Seggy,
How about 1st production EFIS?

I know there was a L-1011 with a glass cockpit but it didnt make production.