More innovations [Travel day]

Three years ago I posted an aircraft wingtip with a curved upward extension (“blended wingtip”) » http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2016-04-11
I conjectured it was for maneuvering, but it's to reduce drag. Now there's a downward extension on the Boeing 737-800 (but *not* a 737 MAX8) we flew today.

This is a “split scimitar winglet,”
https://www.aviationpartners.com/aircraft-winglets/types-blended-winglets/ » “The Split Scimitar Winglet redefines the aerodynamics of the existing Blended Winglet on the Boeing 737NG family. The combined aerodynamic elements of the retrofit — ventral strakes, scimitar tips, and trailing edge wedges — provide a drag reduction, and corresponding range increase, of 2 percent or more for long-range missions. These winglets are now standard on all new Boeing Business Jet aircraft, and are already in service on over 700 Boeing 737NG airliners.
*Patent 5348253.”

The 2% gain in range and fuel savings must be worth it.

More~
» https://www.quora.com/Why-are-the-tips-of-some-airplane-wings-bent-upward
» https://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/how-things-work-winglets-2468375/

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6th March 2019 6th Mar 19