GAIsweetGAI From Norway, joined Jul 2006, 883 posts, RR: 7 Posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1516 times:
All cost and weight considerations aside, would it be possible to create a device that could act as a raked wingtip during cruise (as that period of the flight is, from what I have gathered, where the raked wingtip is most effective), and that could fold to create a winglet during all the other stages of a flight?
"There is an art, or rather a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
HighFlyer9790 From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 1236 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1493 times:
Quoting GAIsweetGAI (Thread starter): All cost and weight considerations aside, would it be possible to create a device that could act as a raked wingtip during cruise (as that period of the flight is, from what I have gathered, where the raked wingtip is most effective), and that could fold to create a winglet during all the other stages of a flight?
well, it depends on the type of aircraft. the 737/757 are very efficient with the blended wingtips, and the heavier, long range aircraft fare better with wingtips, however that is not the case with the 777LR. i think its totally dependent on the situation. whether a hybrid will develop...maybe!
Professional people mover. A to B. CL-65 Type; CFI/CFII/MEI/AGI/IGI
FredT From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2002, 2184 posts, RR: 26 Reply 2, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 1460 times:
Yes, it would be possible. Almost anything is possible if you throw enough resources at it.
The question you probably intended to ask was: Would it make sense to (...)
And no, it wouldn't. The added weight for an actuator, hinge with aerodynamic fairing, structure etc would cost you more than the arguable and very marginal benefits. Besides, winglet design is an art. It is very hard to create a winglet which will actually give you an advantage for the type of flying done with a given aircraft. In fact you can easily damage performance with a poorly designed winglet. If you tried to add the option of folding it down to act as a raked wingtip, you'd inevitably end up with a whole lot of design compromies, making a really poor winglet which would fold down to make a really poor raked wingtip.
Rgds,
/Fred
I thought I was doing good trying to avoid those airport hotels... and look at me now.
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