Airbus launches “Sharklet” large wingtip devices for A320 Family

[flee 5]

Airbus has launched its new "Sharklet" large wingtip devices, specially designed to enhance the eco-efficiency and payload-range performance of the A320 Family. Offered as a forward-fit option, Sharklets are expected to result in at least 3.5 percent reduced fuelburn over longer sectors, corresponding to an annual CO2 reduction of around 700 tonnes per aircraft. The A320 will be the first model fitted with Sharklets, which will be delivered around the end of 2012, to be followed by the other A320 Family models from 2013. Air New Zealand is the launch customer for the Sharklets which are specified for its future A320 fleet.

 

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer, Rob Fyfe commented: "Air New Zealand recently decided to move to an all A320 fleet for narrow-body operations on domestic and short-haul international routes. The new Sharklets will enable our Airbus fleet to benefit from lower fuel burn and carbon emissions, both across Air New Zealand's domestic network and especially on the longer trans-Tasman sectors."

 

Airbus Chief Operating Officer - Customers, John Leahy said: "The eco-efficient A320 Family just keeps getting better. We are delighted that Air New Zealand recognises that our single-aisle Family will remain the most profitable product in its class for years to come." He added: "Sharklets are not just part of Airbus' response to addressing environmental issues and rising fuel costs, but they also enhance aircraft overall performance."

 

It should be noted that the 3.5 percent efficiency improvement with Sharklets will be additional to the already positive effect of the A320 classic wingtip fence. Payload-range benefits include either a revenue payload increase of around 500kg or an additional 100nm range at the original payload. The Sharklet installation also keeps the A320 Family within the ICAO 'Class C' (wingspan less than 36m) and will result in higher available takeoff weights, notably from obstacle-limited runways. Moreover, where runway performance is not 'limiting', operators should profit from a reduction in average takeoff thrust (with consequent savings in engine maintenance costs by around two percent), while communities will also appreciate even lower takeoff noise. Other benefits are the enhanced climb performance and higher initial cruise altitude.

 

This latest development has been part of the larger continuous improvement programme for the A320 Family which is supported by an annual investment in excess of 100 million euros each year. To this end, Airbus has conducted a thorough campaign over several years to evaluate improved large aerodynamic devices - not only using Airbus' company-owned A320 test aircraft, but also with its advanced computational-fluid-dynamics (CFD) simulation-tools.

 

Source: http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/09_11_15_a320_sharklet_new_zealand.html

[Naim 6]

Sharlets like these?

 

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7659/1470002.jpg

 

Meaner than the ones on B738.

[zktai 0]

lost the most iconic parts of A320,Airbus.

 

how about A380 wingtip fences change to sharklets? wasting fuel and weird?

[Hon Kit 3]

So next time if you go spotting, u will need a guess before it arrive. It is a 738? Or is it 320.

[BC Tam 2]

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7659/1470002.jpg

(O/T warning !)

Look at the incline on those two aerobridges in the background !

They don't normally deploy them like that do they ?

How are people other than the fittest of them all going to manage ?

[flee 5]

lost the most iconic parts of A320,Airbus.

 

how about A380 wingtip fences change to sharklets? wasting fuel and weird?

The A380 wingtip fences look like the A320's - as such it would appear that the original A320 design was pretty good already. I guess that one of the reasons why Airbus can now offer the A320 with the sharklets is because they might have found some weight savings elsewhere on the aircraft to compensate for the weight increase of these new aero devices.

[KK Lee 5]

how about A380 wingtip fences change to sharklets? wasting fuel and weird?

 

Most likely during mid-life product upgrade.

 

[Yusoff 1]

Sharlets like these?

 

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7659/1470002.jpg

 

Meaner than the ones on B738.

That is some serious winglet.. err... sharklet..

Christian Siriano's "Fierce!..."

[flee 5]

First sharklet A320 to start test flights in October

 

Photo credit: Airbus

 

Airbus is to conduct the first flight of its sharklet-equipped prototype A320 in October, the airframe having undergone initial preparation for performance testing.

 

The airframer's flight-test aircraft, MSN1, is having its wings stripped in Toulouse as part of the modification.

 

Airbus A320 chief engineer Wolfgang Engler says the process involves creating a "clean wing" by removing flaps and slats, then jacking the aircraft into a stress-free condition to remove the wing skin.

 

Afterwards, the wing will be reinforced internally and fitted with test instrumentation. The aircraft's rear fuselage skin will also be changed for MSN1 to undertake minimum-unstick tests, says Engler.

 

Once the prototype twinjet is modified, it will undergo about 220h of flight tests before the sharklets are removed for Airbus to conduct reference testing with the airframe.

 

Production development of the sharklet involves rebuilding the aircraft's rib 27 to accommodate the high-performance wingtip, while the outer wing will be reinforced to handle higher torque.

 

"Rib 8 outwards is where we need to do some strengthening," says Airbus executive vice-president for programmes Tom Williams. There will also be local reinforcement of the centre wing box.

 

Airbus's schedule sees delivery of the first sharklet wing and initial aircraft assembly in the first quarter of 2012.

 

Production version test flights, amounting to about 650h across several airframe variants, are scheduled to begin in August next year ahead of certification by the end of 2012.

 

Carriers will be able to take an A320 with conventional wing fences and "plug in" the sharklets during a one-day maintenance shop visit, says Williams.

 

Airbus is drawing up a weight-reduction programme throughout the A320 airframe to save about 200kg (440lb) to offset the reinforcement weight and "avoid a penalty" for airlines operating the A320 without sharklets, says Williams.

 

The resulting wing - part of the evolution to the A320neo - will be "weight neutral", he says. "If you take the wingtip fence [rather than the sharklet], you won't be able to tell the difference."

 

Middle Eastern budget carrier Air Arabia has become the latest to opt for sharklets and will equip 28 A320s, out of 44 it has on order, with the fuel-saving modification. Deliveries will start in the second quarter of 2013.

 

Source

[flee 5]

 

 

Airbus has rolled out its A320 test aircraft following the fitting of 'sharklet' wing-tips, which will be an option on new-build aircraft and standard on the re-engined A320neo.

 

The test aircraft, MSN1, will undergo flight-testing "in the coming weeks", said the airframer.

 

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.

 

This would provide the A320 with a higher available take-off weight from runways subject to obstacle limitations.

 

MSN1 will be used to assess the performance of the modification, while Airbus will begin building wings next year which are capable of supporting the new tip.

 

Installation of the sharklet requires inboard and outboard reinforcement to handle different loading, as well as changes to outer wing ribs to accommodate the structure.

 

Several carriers have already signed to take the sharklets, including Air New Zealand, Air Arabia, Finnair and LAN.

 

Source

[michgyver 0]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

copy boeing design?

Edited November 23, 2011 by michgyver

[lionel 0]

it really look the same with boeing, whats wrong with the old one?

[Nik H. 3]

it really look the same with boeing, whats wrong with the old one?

Nothing wrong with old one but definitely something right with this mod. Just wonder what took them so long.....

[flee 5]

It is still more efficient than the old wingtip fences. Up to 3.5% more on longer sectors.

 

Boeing says that their Aviation Partners' winglets give up to 5-6% savings compared to those planes that do not have them.

 

Although it may be wrong to assume that they are the same, it would seem possible that the sharklets give roughly double the fuel savings compared to the old devices.

[flee 5]

A320 MSN-001 rolls out with Sharklets (and shark mouth) to take a big bite out of fuel burn. Sharklets will reduce fuel burn by around 3.5 percent. (26 November 2011)

November 2011 photo by H. Goussé

 

[alberttky 0]

So when is AK expecting their first sharkie??

[flee 5]

I did not recall seeing AK modifying their order for sharklet equipped A320s. If that is the case, they will only get these when the A320 NEO arrives.

Edited November 26, 2011 by flee

[alberttky 0]

I did not recall seeing AK modifying their order for sharklet equipped A320s. If that is the case, they will only get these when the A320 NEO arrives.

 

I won't be surprised to see if they modify their current order. 3% fuel savings is a hell lot of money.

[flee 5]

I won't be surprised to see if they modify their current order. 3% fuel savings is a hell lot of money.

Neither will I. However, the fuel savings will only materialise on longer sectors. AK's preference seems to be for shorter than 3 hour sectors. So fuel savings may be less for them.

[alberttky 0]

Neither will I. However, the fuel savings will only materialise on longer sectors. AK's preference seems to be for shorter than 3 hour sectors. So fuel savings may be less for them.

 

True. Well... maybe with the sharklets they'll look into new longer sectors?? Open up new routes??

[flee 5]

True. Well... maybe with the sharklets they'll look into new longer sectors?? Open up new routes??

Well TF's contention is that the aircraft utilisation/yield ratio is best for sectors up to three hours. Longer sectors will compromise yields as crew would have exceeded their hours and need to be changed.

 

I think that it may be better if AK transferred its longer routes to D7. Then D7 can operate some A321's with sharklets and V2500 engines to maximise the yields for these longer sectors.

[Mike P 0]

Well TF's contention is that the aircraft utilisation/yield ratio is best for sectors up to three hours. Longer sectors will compromise yields as crew would have exceeded their hours and need to be changed.

 

I think that it may be better if AK transferred its longer routes to D7. Then D7 can operate some A321's with sharklets and V2500 engines to maximise the yields for these longer sectors.

 

I don't suppose if AK has any route that is more than 4 hours...

[flee 5]

I don't suppose if AK has any route that is more than 4 hours...

Nope - all routes are less than 4 hours.

 

E.g. KUL-TPE is just over 4 hours but it is operated by D7. KUL-HKG and KUL-MFM are almost 4 hours and is operated by AK.

 

I think KUL-HKG and KUL-MFM would be better operated by D7 with their seating configuration. More comfortable and should also increase yields, if lie flat seats are also included.

[Mike P 0]

Nope - all routes are less than 4 hours.

 

E.g. KUL-TPE is just over 4 hours but it is operated by D7. KUL-HKG and KUL-MFM are almost 4 hours and is operated by AK.

 

KUL - TPE is like 4H50M...

[flee 5]

KUL - TPE is like 4H50M...

Well it is because D7 runs it on "economy cruise" mode. Most airlines can do it in less than 4½ hours.