Winglets — dimension sheet Source: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/winglets/ (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/) Basis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio Catalog version: 2026-10-20 Sizes: see table below - 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. parameter value or range source 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 Files elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher): - 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 - 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/ - 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 Free files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 1 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/winglets/index.json API: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=winglets