Travel News - Airbus rolls out test A320 with sharklets installed

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-rolls-out-test-a320-with-sharklets-installed-365108/

Let's hope A320 test will be very successful. This is only for the flight test.

That's too bad, identifying a 320 series has always been so easy because of the distinctive wing fences. If they change to winglets similar to what is used on other planes like the 737, it will make them harder to tell apart.

That's too bad, identifying a 320 series has always been so easy because of the distinctive wing fences. If they change to winglets similar to what is used on other planes like the 737, it will make them harder to tell apart.

At 8.2ft tall, aren't they a good deal taller than the 737 ones though?

At 8.2ft tall, aren't they a good deal taller than the 737 ones though?

I didn't realize that the 737 winglets were so tall, but according to this site (http://www.b737.org.uk/winglets.htm), the NG winglets are also 8.2 feet, the classics are just under 7.

I didn't realize that the 737 winglets were so tall, but according to this site (http://www.b737.org.uk/winglets.htm), the NG winglets are also 8.2 feet, the classics are just under 7.


Wow... clearly deceptive due to the size of the aircraft then!

If you look carefully, there are other ways to tell which aircraft is which. The wingtip fences are not the first thing you can see from far away.

If you look carefully, there are other ways to tell which aircraft is which. The wingtip fences are not the first thing you can see from far away.

What are the main things you notice from far away?

What are the main things you notice from far away?

This (http://www.bruceleibowitz.net/spotting_2enginewing.htm)site is helpful.

A few main points:
1) the A320 tail meets the fuselage with just a slight curve, the 737s have a "ramped" section between where they meet.
2) Boeings generally have pointier noses, vs. rounded noses in Airbii.
3) The 737 does not have main landing gear doors, so you can see the tires if one is flying overhead, the 320 does have gear doors.

Also, the Airbus empennages go to a small cone, similar to the empennages on the 757 and 767. The empennages on 737s aren't pointed.

When viewed head on, the A32x family have round engine nacelles. Due to ground clearance issues, the 737 Classics and NGs have "hamster pouch" nacelles. The bottoms are flattened making them oval.