Sat, May 01, 2010
Winglets Reduce Induced Drag Resulting In Performance
Improvements
EASA approved Winglet Technology's STC permitting the
installation of the Elliptical Winglets on the Cessna Citation X
business jet earlier this month. Cessna’s Wichita Service
Center followed up the EASA approval with the delivery of the first
European registered Citation X with Elliptical Winglets installed a
few days later. This brings the total number of Citation X business
jets to receive the Elliptical Winglet STC to 11 aircraft with 3
more aircraft currently being modified at Cessna’s Wichita
Service Center.
Winglet Technology initially received FAA approval of the
Elliptical Winglet STC in June 2009. Winglet Technology has
previously received TCCA (Canadian) and ANAC (Brazilian) approval
of the Elliptical Winglet STC for the Citation X. The STC includes
updated AFM and Ops Manual Supplements along with an updated
version of CESSNAV containing electronic versions of each for
customers who have previously purchased the CESSNAV subscription
from Cessna.
The patented Elliptical Winglet design is superior in many
aspects to traditional winglet designs. The elliptical shape
ensures the lift distribution of the wing closely matches optimum
lift distribution along the span of the wing, which minimizes the
induced drag produced by the wing. The resulting drag reduction
translates into the following performance improvements for the
Citation X business jet:
Improved hot day / high altitude takeoff
performance
- Up to 4° C or 1,200 lbs for flaps 5 departures
- Up to 5° C or 1,270 lbs for flaps 15 departures
Increased range capability
- Up to 220 NM for 4 passengers, NBAA IFR reserves, ISA
temperature
- Up to 550 NM for 4 passengers, NBAA IFR reserves, WAT limited
take-off
Higher initial flight levels
- Direct to FL 430 @ MTOW and ISA +10 temperatures
- Direct to FL 450 @ MTOW and ISA temperatures
Reduced time-to-climb
- FL430 reduced from 137 to 37 minutes @ MTOW and ISA +10
temperatures
- FL450 reduced from 84 to 27 minutes @ MTOW and ISA
temperatures
The Citation X has a top speed of .92 Mach, just under the speed
of sound. Winglet Technology, LLC was founded in 2001 and received
a U.S Patent for its unique Elliptical Winglet design in 2002.
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