As we were driving aimlessly around the EWR taxiways in our 738 last Sunday prior to liftoff, I had the opportunity to observe a wide range of aircraft.

I noted that the retrofitted winglets on our 738 and on a CO 757 were much larger than those on a 744 and an A330 (at least they seemed to be--optical illusion?), not to mention the baby winglets on A320s that extend both up and down.

I seem to recall that the retrowinglets on Southwest 737s are also huge.

Is this a case of: If small winglets are good, giant winglets must be better? Any aerotechgeeks out there?