Originally Posted by Airblazer
so.......does anyone have an idea as to what these new winglets are going to look like? Are we talking 738 or E170 style, or still the airbus arrowhead?
Depends on who will win the fly-off. DN has arranged for a company in KS to come up with a elliptical type winglet like the BBJ. Airbus, scared that they would lose out agreed to come up with their own design. Jetblue will provide the A/C for the flyoff (late Feb/early Mar 2006) and the best design (not airbus) will win the contract. Then JB will get a cut of every winglet mod sold/installed. Expectations are that a 4-5% increase in fuel efficency (not as high as 737 (5-6%) because the airbus wing is a bit more efficent) and the big benifit will be increase in range (no tech stops JFK/BOS to LGB) and "no Burbank problems". Gotta give the guy credit for thinking outside the container. With high fuel $$ you gotta find ways to make money somehow.