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Yes, and they already have!
Boeing, the company who has brought us the vision of the 787 Dreamliner, which promises to save 20 percent in fuel efficiency to future air traffic fleets, has brought us a new miracle. Today as it stands, there are over 900 orders from airlines for the new Dreamliner, yet there is not one in sight and probably won't be for another 18 months or so. With gas prices soaring we need an angel, err... perhaps a pair of angels winglets will do.
These seemingly insignificant winglet tips that Boeing has supplied to over 2,300 Boeing jets, have so far already saved about one billion gallons of fuel, and they will save billions more over the course of the next few years. By 2014, Boeing suggests these could have saved a total of 5 billion gallons.
If you calculate all the technical jargon, you would find that these wing tips are saving approximately 6 percent in fuel per round trip. While many airlines were waiting for some other new technologies to come and save them from fuel costs, they now are turning to the winglets for the time being.
The winglets work by reducing the drag coefficient of a plane, reducing the amount of fuel necessary to drag it from A to B. Who would have thought such a simple addition could have made such a huge difference.
These winglets are a good example of some of the technology that is going into the new Dreamliner. The efficiency of the Dreamliner is by no means just from the improved engine. It has a lot to do with aerodynamics and weight saving (carbon fiber) materials. It is an entire package of efficiency features, and we are seeing just a glimpse at what some of this technology can do.
Since nobody has quite got the grasp on a decent flying saucer design, winglets is where it is at today. But if two little wing tips can save one billion in fuel, imagine what an entire nation could do if we really put our minds to it.
Kind of sends chills through the spine just thinking about it!
Source:
HeraldNet
This post was inspired by Mean Green Machines.
