A design approach and selected wind tunnel results at high subsonic speeds for wing-tip mounted winglets

Abstract

Winglets, which are small, nearly vertical, winglike surfaces, substantially reduce drag coefficients at lifting conditions. The primary winglet surfaces are rearward above the wing tips; secondary surfaces are forward below the wing tips. This report presents a discussion of the considerations involved in the design of the winglets; measured effects of these surfaces on the aerodynamic forces, moments, and loads for a representative first generation, narrow body jet transport wing; and a comparison of these effects with those for a wing tip extension which results in approximately the same increase in bending moment at the wing-fuselage juncture as did the addition of the winglets