The Airbus A380 superjumbo may get even larger with new wings
The Airbus A380 superjumbo may sprout extended wings as the manufacturer intensifies studies into the addition of curved extensions aimed at reducing drag and boosting efficiency. The so-called winglets, which on the A380 would each measure as much as 5 meters (16-feet), could reduce fuel burn by up to 4% by dissipating the vortexes of rapidly spinning air created by the plane’s wings. Airbus’s commercial aircraft chief Fabrice Bregier said Friday there’s a good chance that the company will opt to upgrade the smaller wingtip fences currently fitted on the A380. The switch, together with improved engine efficiencies, could help win orders while avoiding the greater expense of a Neo upgrade featuring new turbines and changes to the double-decker’s airframe. <br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2017-06-12/general/the-airbus-a380-superjumbo-may-get-even-larger-with-new-wings
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The Airbus A380 superjumbo may get even larger with new wings
The Airbus A380 superjumbo may sprout extended wings as the manufacturer intensifies studies into the addition of curved extensions aimed at reducing drag and boosting efficiency. The so-called winglets, which on the A380 would each measure as much as 5 meters (16-feet), could reduce fuel burn by up to 4% by dissipating the vortexes of rapidly spinning air created by the plane’s wings. Airbus’s commercial aircraft chief Fabrice Bregier said Friday there’s a good chance that the company will opt to upgrade the smaller wingtip fences currently fitted on the A380. The switch, together with improved engine efficiencies, could help win orders while avoiding the greater expense of a Neo upgrade featuring new turbines and changes to the double-decker’s airframe. <br/>
