Winglet Technology Readies for Sovereign Winglet Certification Trials

Winglet Technology has confirmed performance improvement of its new Citation Sovereign elliptical winglet and is moving into fabrication of the first production unit to support certification flight testing. The Wichita-based firm has filed an application and certification plan for its winglet design on the Sovereign and expects to begin certification flight testing and wing structural testing in March. Certification and entry into service are anticipated in the third quarter of 2016.

The company completed 70 hours of back-to-back winglet-on and winglet-off high-speed tests for cruise performance and handling qualities of a Citation Sovereign last summer. The tests confirmed a 26-knot speed increase at FL470; direct climb to FL450 at a one-percent higher takeoff weight in less than 26 minutes; and a 205-nm range increase for payloads less than 1,120 pounds and 305-nm increase for payloads exceeding 1,495 pounds.

Winglet Technology previously was granted FAA STC approval to install its elliptical winglet design on the Citation X in July 2009. It recently secured approval for takeoff and landing data (TOLD) and 150-pound maximum zero fuel weight (MZFW) increase upgrades for winglet-equipped Citation Xs.

The TOLD service bulletin covers the installation of the winglet, AFM takeoff and landing v-speed database and a required integrated avionics computer upgrade. The MZFW service bulletin increases MZFW from 24,000 pounds to 24,550 pounds, offsetting the 135-pound empty weight increase of the winglet STC installation.

In addition to receiving the STC for retrofit on the X, Cessna has made the winglet design standard on new Citation X+ models, beginning with S/N 501.