Aircraft

Pictures: Second curved large wingtip devices design tested on Airbus A320

Airbus has begun testing the second set of large wingtip devices for the A320 family at its Toulouse headquarters.  

The manufacturer is evaluating two designs, one developed in-house, the second created by Wichita, Kansas-based Winglet Technology. Testing of the in-house designed winglets started in April, initially on Airbus's A320 testbed aircraft (F-WWBA) but also later on a new production aircraft destined for JetBlue Airways. F-WWBA was the first A320 to be built and therefore does not represent the current built standard.

Airbus has now fitted F-WWBA with the curved Winglet Technologies devices, and test flights began today (pictured below). 

It is later expected to modify the JetBlue aircraft for back-to-back tests.

© Yannick Delamarre / French Frogs Aviation Pictures