Fri, Jul 19, 2013
New Winglets Estimated To Improve Fuel Efficiency By Approximately Two Percent For Airline's Next Generation Boeing 737 Fleet
A United Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft retrofitted with the new Split Scimitar Winglet took its maiden test flight Tuesday in Everett, WA. This advanced winglet improves on the existing blended winglets United currently has on its next generation 737 fleet.
In January, United served as the launch customer for this innovative winglet when it made a firm commitment with Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) to retrofit its 737-800 fleet. In June, United announced its commitment to also retrofit its 737-900ER fleet. Using a newly patented design, the program consists of retrofitting United's Boeing Next Generation 737 Blended Winglets by replacing the aluminum winglet tip cap with a new aerodynamically shaped "Scimitar" winglet tip cap and by adding a new Scimitar-tipped ventral strake.
"We are always looking for opportunities to reduce fuel expense by improving the efficiency of our fleet. The Next-Generation 737 Split Scimitar Winglet will provide a natural hedge against rising fuel prices while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions," said United's Vice President of Fleet Ron Baur. "We appreciate APB's focus in helping United become even more fuel efficient."
APB says this new winglet design demonstrates significant aircraft drag reduction over the basic blended winglet configuration United uses on its current fleet. United expects the new Split Scimitar winglet to result in approximately a two percent fuel savings for the 737. Once the Split Scimitar Winglets are installed, the combined winglet technology installed on United's 737, 757, and 767 fleet is expected to save the airline more than $200 million per year in jet fuel costs, the company estimates.
United will begin retrofitting its 737-800 and 737-900ER fleet with the new winglet beginning early next year, once testing and FAA certification of the winglets are complete.
(Image provided by APB.)
More News
Also: New Lakeland Fly-in!, Gleim's DPE, MOSAIC! Nearly three-quarters of a century in the making, EAA is excited about the future… especially with the potential of a MOSAIC>[...]
Estimated (EST) -When used in NOTAMs “EST” is a contraction that is used by the issuing authority only when the condition is expected to return to service prior to the >[...]
Aero Linx: Regional Airline Association (RAA) Regional airlines provide critical links connecting communities throughout North America to the national and international air transpo>[...]
The Airplane Broke Up In Flight And Descended To The Ground. The Debris Path Extended For About 1,435 Ft. Analysis: The pilot, who was the owner and builder of the experimental, am>[...]
From 2015 (YouTube version): History Comes Alive Thanks to A Magnificent CAF Effort The story of the Douglas C-47 named, “That’s all Brother,” is fascinating from>[...]
Airborne 07.21.25: Nighthawk!, Hartzell Expands, Deltahawk 350HP!
See All