Dead deer on the runway at KBWI

[Hollis]

DESCRIPTION
  N398SW SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT 1057 BOEING 737 AIRCRAFT, ON LANDING
  STRUCK A DEER WITH THE NUMBER TWO ENGINE, NO INJURIES REPORTED, AIRCRAFT
  TAXIED TO THE RAMP WITHOUT INCIDENT, BALTIMORE, MD

[joeyb747]

Here is the airplane, oldie but a goodie! Thirteen year old airplane:

B737-3H4 N398SW (cn 27692/2696) with blended winglets. Ironically, landing at KBWI in the pic!

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Southwest-Airlines/Boeing-737-3H4/1348115/L/&sid=a38fce36836b2f8678fd1cbecd389adf

N-number: N398SW
Aircraft Serial Number: 27692
Aircraft Manufacturer: BOEING
Model: 737-3H4
Engine   Manufacturer: CFM INTL.
Model: CFM56 SERIES
Aircraft Year: 1995
Registration Date: 13-May-2004
Airworthiness Certificate Type: Standard
Approved Operations: Transport

[ect76]

There's quite a few of the old -300 series being retrofitted with blended winglets - I can't remember who it was (might be Norweigan?) flies the -300 with winglets over here in the UK too. Do they really make that much difference to an older airframe? I guess they do on the TATL 752s for CO...Sorry for going a bit off topic and generally rambling!

[joeyb747]

There's quite a few of the old -300 series being retrofitted with blended winglets - I can't remember who it was (might be Norweigan?) flies the -300 with winglets over here in the UK too. Do they really make that much difference to an older airframe? I guess they do on the TATL 752s for CO...Sorry for going a bit off topic and generally rambling!

Absolutely they make a difference! They save gallons of fuel, the airplane can fly farther, and carry more payload. The B727-200 was one of the first to get them when they came out. Check out Aviation Partners website. Pretty good stuff!

From website under the 737,757,767 tab:

Up to 6% drag reduction
Built-in fuel hedge
Improved takeoff performance
Reduced engine maintenance costs
Increased payload-range
Lower airport noise and emissions
Improved operational flexibility
Dramatically enhanced appearance
Higher airplane residual value

http://www.aviationpartners.com/index.html

In fact, Airbus is looking at changing the trademark airbus wingtip and adding blended winglets to its' A320 Familes! Here is Airbus A320-211 F-WWBA (cn 001), at Toulouse - Blagnac (TLS / LFBO) in January 2009, looking smart with her new winglets!

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airbus-Industrie/Airbus-A320-211/1470002/L/&sid=1c80df4cd457167028bd4cb7ce2ad1ef

Here in AmeriJet International Boeing 727-212/Adv(F) N598AJ (cn 21947/1506) with winglets. Aviation Partners Blended Winglets make older aircraft more valuable, and useful for years to come.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/AmeriJet-International/Boeing-727-212-Adv(F)/0821522/L/&sid=d42edd2b224efeee1b57c479f6d9d1ce

And, yes, you are correct. Here is Norwegian Air Shuttle Boeing 737-31S LN-KHC (cn 29265/3073) seen in Stockholm - Arlanda (ARN / ESSA), April 1, 2009.
"Now equipped with winglets!" as the caption says! A very smart looking airplane too! 

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Norwegian-Air-Shuttle/Boeing-737-31S/1509478/L/&sid=2ebe7ed1fce616dad7896dface04297a

...now who's rambling...

[Hollis]

Without getting too technical, those winglets were designed to reduce what is known as the 'tip loss factor'. That is a condition where the airflow at the wingtip of an airfoil circulates up and over the tip thereby impinging on, and creating a downward force on the upper surface of the wing near the tip, thus reducing lift in that area. Typically, the loss is up to about 3% of the total lift of the wing. The winglets prevent that by re-directing the downflow in a more horizontal direction, thus regaining the normally lost vertical lift at the wingtips. Quite simple actually.

[joeyb747]

Without getting too technical, those winglets were designed to reduce what is known as the 'tip loss factor'. That is a condition where the airflow at the wingtip of an airfoil circulates up and over the tip thereby impinging on, and creating a downward force on the upper surface of the wing near the tip, thus reducing lift in that area. Typically, the loss is up to about 3% of the total lift of the wing. The winglets prevent that by re-directing the downflow in a more horizontal direction, thus regaining the normally lost vertical lift at the wingtips. Quite simple actually.

Right You Are Sir! That was pretty technical though!   

[mhawke]

Without getting too technical, those winglets were designed to reduce what is known as the 'tip loss factor'. That is a condition where the airflow at the wingtip of an airfoil circulates up and over the tip thereby impinging on, and creating a downward force on the upper surface of the wing near the tip, thus reducing lift in that area. Typically, the loss is up to about 3% of the total lift of the wing. The winglets prevent that by re-directing the downflow in a more horizontal direction, thus regaining the normally lost vertical lift at the wingtips. Quite simple actually.

They also act to reduce the vortex created which trails behind the wingtip.  Reducing the size of that vortex reduces drag on the wing and hence the plane.  The size and speed of the vortex determines how much energy is expending into simply making the air spin.  Reduce either the size or speed, and you reduce the energy expended in making the 'tornado'.