{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets: CC BY 4.0. Standard and published-size files: CC BY 4.0. Xem Studio's own designs (files_license = Xem Studio Design License): free to use and sell things from, not to redistribute as files — https://xemstudio.com/license/. Other publishers' files: their own license, linked beside them.",
 "slug": "winglets",
 "name": "Winglets",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Aircraft design",
 "group": "Wing features",
 "year": null,
 "question": "Do winglets reduce drag?",
 "tags": [
  "vehicle design",
  "wing features",
  "rc design",
  "aerodynamics"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "winglets",
  "winglet design",
  "do winglets work",
  "winglet rc plane",
  "whitcomb winglet",
  "wingtip device",
  "winglet height",
  "blended winglet",
  "winglet induced drag",
  "winglets on gliders"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 1,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/winglets/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/winglets/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "Whitcomb's NASA winglets move the tip vortex away from the wing rather than weakening it; he predicted about 20% less induced drag and 6-9% better L/D, and KC-135 tests measured 20% and 7% (NASA Spinoff; ERAU).",
   "Leishman models a winglet as an effective aspect ratio gain AR_eff = AR(1 + K h/s), with K = 1 for a classic winglet (ERAU). Winglets avoid the wing strengthening a span extension needs (NASA).",
   "On NASA's canard model, enlarged winglets substantially increased directional stability (NASA TP-2623).",
   "Used on: KC-135, Boeing 747-400, MD-11, Boeing 737-700.",
   "The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above. Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "parameter",
    "value or range",
    "source"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "Induced drag reduction (KC-135)",
     "20% predicted and measured",
     "NASA Spinoff 2010"
    ],
    [
     "L/D increase",
     "6-9% predicted, 7% measured",
     "NASA Spinoff 2010"
    ],
    [
     "KC-135 winglet height",
     "9 ft",
     "NASA Spinoff 2010"
    ],
    [
     "Effective AR",
     "AR(1 + K h/s), K = 1 classic winglet",
     "ERAU (Leishman)"
    ],
    [
     "737 MAX AT winglet fuel saving (claimed)",
     "up to 1%",
     "ERAU"
    ],
    [
     "Reference build",
     "tapered wing with 60 mm winglets",
     "illustrative"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Winglets — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/winglets/  (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/)\nBasis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- Whitcomb's NASA winglets move the tip vortex away from the wing rather than weakening it; he predicted about 20% less induced drag and 6-9% better L/D, and KC-135 tests measured 20% and 7% (NASA Spinoff; ERAU).\n- Leishman models a winglet as an effective aspect ratio gain AR_eff = AR(1 + K h/s), with K = 1 for a classic winglet (ERAU). Winglets avoid the wing strengthening a span extension needs (NASA).\n- On NASA's canard model, enlarged winglets substantially increased directional stability (NASA TP-2623).\n- Used on: KC-135, Boeing 747-400, MD-11, Boeing 737-700.\n- The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above. Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle.\n\nparameter  value or range  source\nInduced drag reduction (KC-135)  20% predicted and measured  NASA Spinoff 2010\nL/D increase  6-9% predicted, 7% measured  NASA Spinoff 2010\nKC-135 winglet height  9 ft  NASA Spinoff 2010\nEffective AR  AR(1 + K h/s), K = 1 classic winglet  ERAU (Leishman)\n737 MAX AT winglet fuel saving (claimed)  up to 1%  ERAU\nReference build  tapered wing with 60 mm winglets  illustrative\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- NASA Spinoff 2010: Winglets Save Billions of Dollars in Fuel Costs — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110000748/downloads/20110000748.pdf\n- Embry-Riddle (Leishman), Introduction to Aerospace Flight Vehicles: Wing Shapes and Nomenclature — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://eaglepubs.erau.edu/introductiontoaerospaceflightvehicles/chapter/wing-shapes-and-nomenclature/\n- NASA Langley (D. Satran): Wind-Tunnel Investigation of the Flight Characteristics of a Canard General-Aviation Airplane Configuration, NASA TP-2623 (1986) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19870000606/downloads/19870000606.pdf\n\nFree files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 1 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/winglets/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=winglets\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "NASA Spinoff 2010",
   "title": "Winglets Save Billions of Dollars in Fuel Costs",
   "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110000748/downloads/20110000748.pdf",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Embry-Riddle (Leishman), Introduction to Aerospace Flight Vehicles",
   "title": "Wing Shapes and Nomenclature",
   "url": "https://eaglepubs.erau.edu/introductiontoaerospaceflightvehicles/chapter/wing-shapes-and-nomenclature/",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "NASA Langley (D. Satran)",
   "title": "Wind-Tunnel Investigation of the Flight Characteristics of a Canard General-Aviation Airplane Configuration, NASA TP-2623 (1986)",
   "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19870000606/downloads/19870000606.pdf",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "plain-flap",
  "split-flap",
  "slotted-flap",
  "fowler-flap",
  "leading-edge-slat-slot",
  "gurney-flap"
 ],
 "fits": [],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no printing tolerance)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no printing tolerance. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn.",
 "mating": [],
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "Do winglets help small RC planes?",
   "a": "The physics is the same: they act like extra span (AR_eff = AR(1+K h/s), ERAU), but Whitcomb's numbers are for transports."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": {
  "name": "Xem Studio Design License",
  "holder": "Xem Studio",
  "url": "https://xemstudio.com/license/",
  "note": "Xem Studio's own design: free to use, print, modify and sell things made from it; not to be republished or redistributed as files."
 },
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "winglets-wing",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/winglets/winglets-wing.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/winglets/winglets-wing.stl",
   "note": "tapered planform: span 1000, root 220, tip 99 mm, LE sweep 0°, dihedral 3°, NACA 2412"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/winglets/index.md"
}