BA 767 with red blended winglets(?)

Skipcool3 · Nov 20, 12, 3:00 pm

~ I was at Gatwick today and 767 'WNB' was still over at the engineering sheds being refreshed.... parked near to her was another British Airways aircraft which looked like a B767 with bright red blended winglets.
I was unable to see the reg. in the gloom; is this something new?

Or something that has been around a while?

BingBongBoy · Nov 20, 12, 3:03 pm

Are you sure it was a 767? Could it not have been one of the Openskies 757 aircraft?

BA do not, and will not have wing tips on the 767 frames...

globalste · Nov 20, 12, 3:13 pm

There is a 767 that has been sat for ages at LGW, it has lots of red covers on it including the engine pods so this may have been the aircraft.

Could also be a 757 as well of course

ps Hello BBB

BingBongBoy · Nov 20, 12, 3:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by globalste

ps Hello BBB

Hello...

BingBongBoy · Nov 20, 12, 3:15 pm

Openskies 757, avec rouge winglets:

PotNoodle · Nov 20, 12, 4:14 pm

What are winglets? Are they the same as sharklets?

I am assuming they are the flappy part on the end of the wing, but what is the purpose of it?

DYKWIA · Nov 20, 12, 4:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PotNoodle

What are winglets? Are they the same as sharklets?

I am assuming they are the flappy part on the end of the wing, but what is the purpose of it?

Fuel efficiency. I believe they reduce the vortex at the end of the wing, which makes the wing more efficient.

dunk · Nov 20, 12, 4:22 pm

I'm sure someone will be along with a more precise explanation, but they improve fuel efficiency by reducing the vortices that develop at aircraft wingtips when higher pressure air beneath the wing tries to spill around the tip to the lower pressure region above (rather than pushing the wing upwards to create lift).

Or something like that

Skipcool3 · Nov 20, 12, 4:22 pm

~Thanks BBB, I think you are right..... it was gloomy and a way off; plus view blocked by the hanger but the 757 open skies is probably what it was..... I did think initially it was a 757 as the fuselage didn't look wide enough for a 767....
I am back at Gatwick later this week so will have another look....

Globalste, the 767 you are citing~ it is a succession of short haul 767s undergoing refresh.

BZHB (Hairy B!) then WNA and currently WNB plus the original trial aircraft.

PotNoodle · Nov 20, 12, 4:29 pm

Thanks for the explanation, it sounds very technical.

Someone mentioned that BA do not have these devices on the 767. Is it because the 767 pre-dates the device or do they cost too much money to be worth it?

DWFI · Nov 20, 12, 4:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PotNoodle

What are winglets? Are they the same as sharklets?

I am assuming they are the flappy part on the end of the wing, but what is the purpose of it?

They the the part attached to the wingtip. The flappy part is called the Flaps. They are fixed and do not move.

dunk · Nov 20, 12, 4:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PotNoodle

Thanks for the explanation, it sounds very technical.

Someone mentioned that BA do not have these devices on the 767. Is it because the 767 pre-dates the device or do they cost too much money to be worth it?

The wikipedia article is quite accessible.

They cost a significant amount to research, design and fit, and this must be done separately for each type. As the fuel efficiency improvement is in the order of a couple of percent, it may not be worth the effort or cost.

This article is interesting http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art...-fleet-338326/

evanderm · Nov 20, 12, 4:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PotNoodle

Thanks for the explanation, it sounds very technical.

Someone mentioned that BA do not have these devices on the 767. Is it because the 767 pre-dates the device or do they cost too much money to be worth it?

I believe hat the particular type of 767 that BA have (RR engines/no over wing exit) isn't certified for winglets and as BA are one of very few operators with this type, the certification process is prohibitively expensive.

That or it cannot be certified for another reason but it has to do with certification and modification IIRC.

EDIT: dunk beat me to it.

BA are one of few if not the only operator of 767s with RR engines, so the cost would outweigh the benefit for certification

Skipcool3 · Nov 20, 12, 4:44 pm

China eastern and Qantas have some roller powered 767s.

I have done a little research and apparently Willie Walsh was keen to get blended winglets on the BA fleet but it is not an easy fix due to the wing loadings owing to the Heavier roller engines.

Gatwick spotters website

says that Open Skies B757 F~HAVN arrived on the 14th. November.... so thanks BBB, sound advice again!

I must have had my eyes shut!!!

kanderson1965 · Nov 20, 12, 4:48 pm

I believe I have read that the combination of the weight of the RB211s used on the BA 767s which are greater than the other engine options available combined with rated engine thrust and the differing forces that winglets act on the wings cause additional potential stress on the wing. This, as others have stated, would require substantial re-certification calculations and potential wing re-design.

Edit: beaten to it by Skipcool3