Airbus rolls out first A320 with Sharklets

CaptainSkidmark

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-rolls-out-test-a320-with-sharklets-installed-365108/



I dont like the look of the A320 with sharlets to be honest!

A lot of wing re-structure must be done for them.

Was it the same with the 747 winglets and 737?

David086

The winglets are supposedly 10% more fuel efficient.

CaptainSkidmark

3.5% over a 3000km journey on the A320, wonder what the a380 would look like with them

sparrowcar

It's just like a Boeing/Embraer/COMAC etc now.
I liked the look of the old small winglets. Suppose if it saves the planet then it's ok

Fishtits

3% is a big deal, sod what it looks like.

Combined with the new engine for the NEO's it could be a game changer.

Boeing are taking such a hammering on this segment orders its not funny.

Tenger

CaptainSkidmark wrote: »

I dont like the look of the A320 with sharklets to be honest!

Maybe its the angle of that pic, but I thought they would be more back swept.


Quote from the article
"Sharklets, which replace the A320's wing fences, will reduce fuel-burn on the type by up to 3.5% on longer sectors of around 3,000nm (5,560km), Airbus claims.

The airframer also expects the sharklets - each of which is 2.5m (8.2ft) tall - to improve take-off performance by up to 3t."

Here's a shot of a B738 to compare the winglet design:

Ryanair B738 at DUB by tearbringer, on Flickr

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Another angle.

Zonda999

Well then, this si what short haul travel will look like for the next 25 years eh..

I still think the B738 is a much better looking aircraft than the A320. Still astonishes me that the 737 still has the same nose structure as the 707. Seeing as the 737 (MAX) will be around till about 2030, that means, the same nose structure will have been used on some Boeing aircraft for something like 72 years! :eek: (1958 - 2030)

L1011

Having seen an almost alternating line of A320-family and 737 (mostly FR 738s) at BHX at the weekend, I actually remembered how ugly I think the front of the 737 actually is.

The engine nacelles look hideous on the 320, though; much more elegant on the 737.

Stovepipe

Hi all
So Airbus finally do what everybody else is doing, about thirty years later and then puff it up by saying that it'll save 3% over 3000 km flights, which only a handful of airlines use 320s for?
regards
stovepipe

ian_m

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpIaXd-4QGU

David086

With these new Sharklets are the likes of Aer Lingus, BA, LH etc going to replace their original winglets on their A320's?

globemaster1986

I think it looks great! Much more pleasing on the eye than the 737. The 737 nose is hideous

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

Zonda999

globemaster1986 wrote: »

I think it looks great! Much more pleasing on the eye than the 737. The 737 nose is hideous

One of the thing I prefer on the 737 is the nose, i must admit

David086 wrote: »

With these new Sharklets are the likes of Aer Lingus, BA, LH etc going to replace their original winglets on their A320's?

I see Aer Lingus have no more orders for A320's, surely though, they will put them on their newer deliveries of A320s. They will be in their fleet for 10 years surely. The sharklets definitely make the A320 a better looking aircraft, whatever about it overall, it does like a more modern design to the 737. Would be nice to see what those sharklets would like on the Aer Lingus retrojet :cool:

Tenger

David086 wrote: »

With these new Sharklets are the likes of Aer Lingus, BA, LH etc going to replace their original winglets on their A320's?

I read that Airbus will offer them as an option on all new builds from sometime in 2012. They have no current plans to offer a retrofit option.

The A320 NEO will also be offered with winglets.

bladeruner

My big question is " by how much will the cross wind limitation be reduced by these monsters?
It knocked about 2 factored knots off the 737 limit.