German maintenance, repair and overhaul provider Lufthansa Technik (LHT) has become the first European company to install Aviation Partner (API’s) new split scimitar winglets (SSW) on a Boeing Business Jet.
The modification took 10 days to complete and comes on the heels of EASA approval for the aerodynamic wingtip – developed jointly by API and Boeing.
The SSW retrofit involves replacing the BBJ's current winglet tip caps with an aerodynamically shaped ‘scimitar’ tip cap, and adding a smaller, similar-shaped ventral strake.
LHT said that in order to install the winglets, its engineering team were required to “reinforce various areas on the inside of the aircraft's structure, particularly in the wing tanks”. The project also involved “complex painting tasks… to match the aircraft’s current paint scheme”, it adds.
Lufthansa Technik
API launched the retrofit programme two years ago for owners and operators of BBJ, BBJ2 and BBJ3 VIP airliners. The feature is also standard on all new BBJs.
According to Seattle, Washington-based API, the new winglet helps to reduce drag on long-range flights and boosts range by around 2% – or as much as 120nm (220km).
“The upgrade essentially gives a BBJ with seven auxiliary fuel tanks the range of an eight-auxiliary-tank airplane,” the company says.
LHT is now in talks with other BBJ owners looking to modify their aircraft with the SSW adaptation.
Source: Flight International
