Airflow simulation for winglets

Embraer engineers used CFD to visualize flow patterns around wings for a design retrofit.

Based in São José dos Campos, Brazil, Embraer was founded as a government company in 1969 and privatized in 1994. Its regional aircraft range from the 30-seat EMB 120 Brasilia turboprop to the 37-seat ERJ 135, the new 44-seat ERJ 140, and the 50-seat ERJ 145 jetliners. The company claims to hold a 45% share of the regional jet market, and to be the fourth largest commercial aircraft manufacturer in the world. It recently launched the 170, 175, 190, and 195, which seat 70, 78, 98, and 108 passengers respectively. Embraer has also recently launched Legacy, a corporate jet based on the ERJ 135 jetliner, and contributes to 50% of the Brazilian Air Force fleet.

Some of these aircraft were conceived from the beginning with winglets, while others were designed and certified without them. Winglet development at Embraer began in 1989, when it conducted subsonic wind-tunnel tests at Centro Técnico Aeroespacial, a Brazilian Research Agency for Aeronautics and Astronautics. The test results indicated potential benefits of fitting winglets with a smooth transition onto the tips of existing aircraft wings. A prototype of the twin-pusher CBA-123 was flown equipped with a preliminary design in February 1991 to gather flight-test data.