Split-scimitar winglets increase range and reduce fuel burn.
Lufthansa Technik, based in Hamburg, Germany, became the first MRO provider in Europe to install split-scimitar winglets on a Boeing Business Jet. This is the third BBJ in the world to be equipped with these new winglets from Aviation Partners Boeing.
The modification took place over a period of ten days as specialists at Lufthansa Technik’s VIP & Executive Jet Maintenance product division reinforced various areas on the inside of the aircraft’s structure in order to install the winglets.
The unidentified customer was also very satisfied: “The results met my expectations completely. This was a new task for Lufthansa Technik, and the company fulfilled it on schedule and in high quality. Even the new paint on the wingtips where the installation took place was adapted optimally to the complex existing color scheme.”
The new winglets have been on the market since early 2014 and will be standard equipment on all BBJs by the summer of 2016. Due to drag reduction, increases in range of 2.5-3% have been realized as well as fuel savings of over of 2%.