Wow, I’m getting a real education here! I’ve spent my whole aviation career teaching students about drag,coefficients of lift and I never knew that all this time it was that darn turbulence out there slowing the plane.
Since I have obviously met someone who knows more about aviation than I do, could you elaborate on your comments in post #26 about how winglets affect noise and obstacle clearance?
"Since I have obviously met someone who knows more about aviation than I do, could you elaborate on your comments in post #26 about how winglets affect noise and obstacle clearance?"
Sure! The wisdom of the 3 second internet search wins against the credential king again.
Source is boeing -- what do they know?
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BLENDED WINGLET PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS
Depending on the airplane, its cargo, the airline's routes, and other factors, blended winglets can:
* Improve takeoff performance and OBSTACLE CLEARANCE, allowing airlines to derate engine thrust.
(Winglets let planes take off from runways in a shorter distance as shown in this boeing chart)
REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS AND COMMUNITY NOISE
At airports that charge landing fees based on an airplane's noise profile, blended winglets can save airlines money every time they land. The noise affected area on takeoff can be reduced by up to 6.5 percent. With requirements pending in many European airports for airplanes to meet Stage 4/Chapter 4 noise limits, the addition of blended winglets may result in lower landing fees if the winglet noise reduction drops the airplane into a lower-charging noise category. The noise reduction offered by blended winglets can also help prevent airport fines for violating monitored noise limits.
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/articles/qtr_03_09/article_03_1.html