Turbulence Formations
 

Not really into this stuff, but thought this video was cool. https://ca.screen.yahoo.com/plane-in...200514361.html It makes you wonder what little difference a tip shape, or small design change really does overall. The cloud is deformed above the plane for quite a distance in this pic. I remember seeing a video of a light plane going through some mist over some trees too, maybe someone can find it and post here.

I love that over-wing condensation and vortexes. Yes the winglets on the ends of the wing make a HUGE difference in performance.

The ability of the big heavies to create such vortices is why there's a wait time after a heavy takes off or arrives before smaller planes can use the runways.

Jaspernicus
I suppose it depends on what you define as huge but I think you might be disappointed how small it actually is but then just one or two percent is significant in the very competitive airline industry.

Well yeah i guess "huge" is subjective. NASA measured a 6.5% improvement on a 707. I consider that very big for such a small part of a plane.

Well, actually it was a KC-135 which is a Boeing 717 not a 707, there are significant differences.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/a...4-15-DFRC.html

And the loads imposed on the KC-135's wing did some extensive structural damage. That is why you see very few retrofit kits on airliners. Those that have winglets were usually designed with them from scratch.

And the NASA 6.5% improvement was ONLY in straight and level cruise. For a typical tanker mission profile the savings was less than 3% and it did not warrant the return of investment when you included the needed structural modifications. Also the winglet benefits were negated when the USAF put hose refueling pods on the tanker wingtips.

Ok but back to the point we were on: wingtips make a difference in aerodynamics and efficiency. It's proven. The original post was contemplating what a difference they make and is significant enough for all new planes to have them integrated. The overwing condensation is not a reflection of wingtips working or not. Just a visualization of the low pressure over wings. Anywho: cheers.

Found another one. http://www.chonday.com/Videos/foglanfgttk3 Looks like the flaps make a couple of lines.

"Caution wake turbulence!"

Spectacular video but strictly those are a form of condensation trail not wake turbulence as such.
This video demonstrates how much 'vorticity' is left behind a plane, even a relatively small one, under the right conditions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5jtkQzDw-c

Well..... actually..... A 707 is really an extremely old antique. Even it's skin is obsolete. It's a good bet there isn't much about the wing that hasn't been improved significantly since the 1950s.

http://hot.legendaryspeed.com/windmi...smoke-pattern/ Another one