Handling With Only 1 Winglet In-flight? — Civil Aviation Forum

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Handling With Only 1 Winglet In-flight?

ConcordeBoy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1265 times:

Take a look at this pic:

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Photo © Yo Tanaka

For the pilots out there-- wouldnt this affect the aircraft's handling quite significantly?

6 replies: All unread, jump to last

DC-10 Levo From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 3432 posts, RR: 5
Reply 1, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1221 times:

I'm no pilot, but I think this was discussed just a couple of weeks ago either in this forum or the Tech/ops. Do a search. (I remember reading that it wouldn't affect the plane at all.)

DC-10

Jhooper From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 6195 posts, RR: 13
Reply 2, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1142 times:

This is just a guess here, but I would think that this would cause a SLIGHT roll and/or yaw to the right, since winglets reduce induced drag and improve lift; probably not enough to be noticible. At any rate, it appears to me this crew performed a poor preflight and could probably get into trouble. (or does the 747 MEL allow for this?)

Last year 1,944 New Yorkers saw something and said something.

Jcs17 From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 8065 posts, RR: 43
Reply 3, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1136 times:

I'm sure that the crew didnt "miss" it on pre-flight. The effects would probably be so negligible that safe flight could be carried out. I mean, how could you miss a missing winglet?

America's chickens are coming home to rooooost!

N79969 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 4, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1127 times:

Actually there are several photos of 744s with missing winglets on this website. I think there may even be a A330 with a missing winglet. I am all but certain that a winglet can MEL'd. I think the last thread on this topic stated there is a slight yaw moment if the winglet is gone but it does not significantly alter the flying characteristics of the aircraft. If that thread was accurate, it seems like a little rudder trim will take care of the yaw moment.

Flysab From Belgium, joined Nov 1999, 106 posts, RR: 6
Reply 5, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 1073 times:

Well I flew a 330 with one winglet missing 2 months ago, and there is absolutely no difference. Of course on the 330 the fly by wire and the flight control computers take care of everything, so it's normal not to feel any difference. For the 747 or other non fly by wire aircraft, i just can guess that there must be something to be felt, but it must be easy to eliminate by trimming.

HlywdCatft From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 5321 posts, RR: 7
Reply 6, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1009 times:

I remember being at DTW a couple years ago and seeing one of the NW 744s with a missing winglet facing me and wondering when did NW get 743s? The plane took off so obviously it was not important enough to pull from service and put in maintenance.

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