Sharklets will add new “competitive teeth” to the A320 jetliner family
Airbus’ new wingtip devices for A320 Family jetliners is part of a long-term enhancement programme to ensure that its best-selling single-aisle aircraft product line remains highly competitive, efficient and airport-friendly for years to come.
The first customer to choose these devices – called Sharklets™ – is Air New Zealand, which was revealed at a Dubai Airshow press conference today, where Airbus also rolled out a new tagline for the ever-improving A320 Family: “The best keeps getting better.”
Offered as optional equipment on new production A320-series aircraft, the Sharklets provide aerodynamic improvements that result in multiple benefits for operators, including lower fuel burn, reduced emissions, increased range and payload, better take-off performance and rate-of-climb, higher optimum altitude, reduced engine maintenance costs and higher residual aircraft value.
The Sharklets have a height of 2.4 metres, and their 200-kg. installed total weight is offset by weight savings being introduced throughout the A320 Family airframe.
Airbus has been an industry pioneer in the use of wingtip devices, beginning with its cornerstone A300 and A310 jetliners. Both were outfitted with devices called wingtip fences, which contribute to reducing the spiral-shaped vortices that form at the wingtips of any aircraft during flight – creating aerodynamic drag.
Experience gained with the A330/A310 devices was applied to Airbus’ initial wingtip fences for the A320 Family, and was followed by the incorporation of wingtip fences and larger winglet-type devices on the A330, A340 and A380 – and in the future on the new A350 XWB.
Airbus’ Sharklets are the latest element in an ongoing continuous improvement programme for the A320 Family, which also includes aerodynamic refinements, engine improvements, passenger cabin enhancements and extended service intervals for the airframe.
