The Natio
nal Research Council recently released a study concluding that adding “winglets,” those near-vertical wing tip extensions, to most cargo aircraft could save the Air Force millions of dollars in fuel costs, reports Stars and Stripes. The Air Force’s newest airlifter, the C-17 has winglets, but the NRC recommended more research to see if modifying them slightly would enhance fuel savings. It recommended adding winglets to KC-135 and KC-10 tankers and to the C-5 airlifter.
After years of experiments and tests, senior Air Force leaders say they're on the verge of using C-17s and other cargo aircraft to launch cruise missiles via airdrop, touting the development as a way to bolster the combat fleet and a major shift in the service’s mindset.