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Old Jan 3, 2001 | 5:26 am
  #12  
stargold
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Join Date: Jul 2000
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About the 747-400s...

Some 747-400s don't have the winglets. Winglets improve fuel efficiency by reducing air turbulence around the edge of the wing, so they go further than models without the winglets. But winglets, though small they are (actually, they're taller than you might expect), they are still an "extra" compared to a wing without it, so it costs money.

ANA operates a special type of 747 called 747-400D where the "D" stands for "Domestic". Used for... domestic routes. It's a typical "sardine can" configuration seating more than 400 people. It does not have the "winglets" because the cost of the winglets don't justify the savings from lower fuel consumption. The routes it serves are hardly ever more than 500 miles. (in fact, verging on never)
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