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Winglets

Fly-by-wire 

An industry leader

An industry leader

Airbus has pioneered the use of wingtip devices in aviation for decades, beginning with its cornerstone A300 and A310 jetliner programmes.  Both were outfitted with components called wingtip fences – which help reduce the spiral-shaped vortices that form at the wingtips of any aircraft during flight, creating aerodynamic drag.

These wingtip devices – which are arrow-shaped surfaces attached to the tip of each wing – enhance the overall efficiency of aircraft, saving fuel by reducing drag while also lowering noise emissions by improving take-off performance.

Experience gained with the A330/A310 was applied to Airbus’ initial wingtip fences for the A320 Family, which measure 2.4 metres in height.  They were followed by the incorporation of wingtip fences and larger winglet-type devices on the A330, A340, A380 and – in the future – Airbus’ new-generation A350 XWB.

The best gets better

Airbus’ next step is the large Sharklets™ wingtip devices, representing the latest element in an ongoing continuous improvement programme for its best-selling A320 Family.   Unveiled in 2009, 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.

These fuel-saving devices completed their first flight in November 2011, outfitted on Airbus’ in-house A320 development aircraft. The nearly five-hour flight from Toulouse, France kicked off a multi-month test campaign to validate the Sharklets’ performance, confirm their aerodynamic behaviour and gather data for certification.

Sharklets are expected to reduce fuel burn over long sectors by at least 3.5 per cent, representing an annual CO2 reduction of approximately 700 tonnes per aircraft.  The Sharklets measure 2.4 metres in height, with their 200-kg. installed total weight offset by weight savings being introduced throughout the A320 Family airframe.

Offered as optional equipment on new production A320-series aircraft, the Sharklets also are included in the new A320neo versions of Airbus’ single-aisle family jetliners – which also incorporate two new engine options for further fuel savings and enhanced performance.

In design Fly-by-wire