Split Scimitar Winglets

Hello SF, you wrote 2015/01/16 at 13:10:

I started the split scimitar discussion as a bit of a joke, but as noted, when SWA is on board, this is serious.

to extend this discussion a little:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingtip_device

look for "spiroid winglet" about 80% down the page (or use "search"
function of your browser). Could be more effective and less fragile than
the discussed Split Scimitar Winglets. I remember I saw some more simple
construction years ago (on pictures); those were a kind of ring-shaped
winglets. Maybe they are not as efective as the spiroids, but surely
more simple to build and perhaps not patented(?).

Hello SF, you wrote 2015/01/16 at 13:10:

I started the split scimitar discussion as a bit of a joke, but as
noted, when SWA is on board, this is serious.

to extend this discussion a little:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingtip_device

look for "spiroid winglet" about 80% down the page (or use "search"
function of your browser). Could be more effective and less fragile than
the discussed Split Scimitar Winglets. I remember I saw some more simple
construction years ago (on pictures); those were a kind of ring-shaped
winglets. Maybe they are not as efective as the spiroids, but surely
more simple to build and perhaps not patented(?).

regards

Werner

The split winglet design tried by Masak is attributed to Dave Marsden in Peter's paper he

www.postfrontal.com/PDF/Winglets_01.pdf

Many years ago when I was finishing my senior thesis in college writing about the development of jet powered airliners, I was digging through the "stacks" in the library looking for aerodynamic textbooks from the 1930s and 1940s. Winglets, ring wings, box wings - you name it. All documented barely 20 years after the Wrights made their first flight. It's taken 80 years to refine them, but it's amazing to me that the concepts have been around that long.

On Friday, January 16, 2015 at 7:59:53 PM UTC-5, Papa3 wrote:
Many years ago when I was finishing my senior thesis in college writing about the development of jet powered airliners, I was digging through the "stacks" in the library looking for aerodynamic textbooks from the 1930s and 1940s. Winglets, ring wings, box wings - you name it. All documented barely 20 years after the Wrights made their first flight. It's taken 80 years to refine them, but it's amazing to me that the concepts have been around that long.

Sooo..... would you say:

"What goes around, comes around"?

Or.....

"Those that don't study history are doomed to repeat it?"

Not slinging "poop" at anyone, just that there are times when an idea is a bit, "Too soon to accept" and have to await a correct time to be accepted.

;-)

Southwest has discontinued the split scimitar winglet on future 737-800 deliveries, going back to basic blended design. Expected fuel burn reduction supposedly not realized in daily operations.... But they do look cool.