Winglets are designed to reduce wingtip vortices. The initial concept dates back to 1897 when English Engineer Frederick Lanchester patented wing end plates as a method for controlling wingtip vortices.

What are wingtip vortices?

They are swirling tunnels of air that form on wingtips. High-pressure air from the bottom of the wing escapes around the wingtip, moving up towards the lower pressure area on the top of the wing. This movement creates a vortex or tunnel of air, rotating inwards behind the wing.

This set of winglets came from a retired Cathay Pacific Airlines Boeing 747-467, B-HUA (C/N 25127) which ended its flying days in 2015.

The 747-400’s wingspan was stretched by 17 feet (5.2m) over the Classic 747 through wingtip extensions. For reduced aerodynamic drag, the wings were fitted with 6 feet (1.8 metres) tall winglets. Despite the added length, the wings were 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg) lighter as a result of new aluminium alloys.

Technical Specifications

Crew : 2
Passengers : 416
Length : 70.66m (231ft 10in)
Wingspan : 64.44m (211ft 5in)
Height : 19.41m (63ft 8in)
Engine : 4 x Rolls-Royce RB211
Thrust x 4 : 264.4kN (59,450 lbf)
Maximum Speed : 908 km/h (564mph)
Service Ceiling : 13,700m (45,100ft)
Empty Weight : 183,523kg (404,600 lb)
Loaded Weight : 396,893kg (875,000lb)
Range : 13,490km (8,382 miles)