Upturned Wing Tips Improve Aerodynamics, Efficiency

Cessna Aircraft Company has rolled out its latest variant of the Citation X. On Monday, Cessna announced the delivery of the first Cessna Citation X to be fitted with Elliptical Winglets. The winglets were installed at the Wichita Cessna Service Center under Winglet Technology's U.S. Federal Aviation Administration-approved Supplemental Type Certificate.

Cessna and Winglet Technology, LLC, collaborated to develop the latter's patented Elliptical Winglet for retrofit on Cessna's Citation X business jet.

The patented Elliptical Winglet shape ensures the lift distribution closely matches optimum lift distribution along the span of the wing, which reduces the induced drag of the aircraft. The resulting drag reduction enhances operational performance for the Citation X including decreased fuel consumption, increased speed and increased range.

Winglet Technology received FAA approval of the Elliptical Winglet installation on the Citation X in June and delivered the first FAA approved retrofit kit to the Wichita Cessna Service Center. The retrofit kit includes flight and operations manual supplements along with an updated version of CESSNAV for customers who have purchased that subscription service from Cessna. In addition to the installation of the Elliptical Winglets, the retrofit kit includes the replacement of the existing anti-collision and position light system with LED versions.

Plans are underway to offer installation of the Elliptical Winglet STC on the Citation X at all nine Cessna Service Centers located throughout the U.S. and in Europe. Cessna Parts Distribution will be providing spares support for Citation Xs with the Elliptical Winglet STC installed.

Cessna claims the Citation X is the world's fastest non-military aircraft with a top speed of .92 Mach, just under the speed of sound.

FMI: www.cessna.com