Wanted to share a story about a dropped winglet. How in the world did that happen, and how scary would that be?

http://www.avherald.com/h?article=45584635&opt=0

Winglets main function is to increase efficiency during takeoff and climb. They are not required, just beneficial. It's loss will not significantly impact the flight capability any more than moderate turbulence does.

If one falls off it will not be fatal, provided the bits don't get sucked into the engine or impact another part of the aircraft negatively such as penetrating the fuselage or damaging the elevator when they come off.

"...the captain reassuring passengers that only a small part of the aircraft had gone missing."

"Not to worry folks! It's only a *SMALL* part of the plane that fell off..."

yet another story about wing glitz?

Winglets also have the benefit of better fuel efficiency as they reduce the lift-induced drag caused by wingtip vortices, improving lift-to-drag ratio.

In the age of high gas prices which affect a lot of airlines consuming Jet-A, adding a winglet option/upgrade makes sense if it can be done.

But as for keeping the plane flying, not much of a big deal. The best analogy would be having a spoiler on your car or not. Adding a spoiler makes the car more aerodynamic (and perhaps some benefit in fuel economy?), but it's not necessary to keep the car moving.

The dropped winglet would be a big headache if it lands on someone on the ground though!

Not to mention the psychological impact of "parts of your plane just fell off."

where did it fall, did it cause damage where it fell out of the sky?

Yeah, that was on its way to becoming a funny, funny FT thread.

Luckily it was modinated before we got to enjoy too much humor.

Question: If you are the one to find the winglet, do you get to keep it?

Mike

In Mexico City? Certainly

Actually a spoiler on a car would in fact inrease aerodynamic drag just like an airplanes wing would. In the case of a car though the wing's purpose is to use airflow to increase downward presure on the rear tires for traction. If you notice also though, many of these wings also have winglets for the very same reason.


Winglets purpose is this: An airfoil works because it creates a condition of high pressure below the wing and a condition of low pressure above. In an open system those pressure differences are always going to be trying to equalize. As air flows from front to back over the wing it will equalize after passing over the wing completely, at the ends however small amounts of air try to navigate from high to low pressure by curving up around the ends of the wing. This causes wingtip vorticies and in turn, drag and fuel costs. Winglets are used to make it harder for air to get from under the wing, around the edge and up on top.

It's the worst on heavy and slow aircraft, see this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy0hgG2pkUs