Editing Wingtip device (section)

==== Gliders ====
[[File:Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2b glider being launched at Lasham Airfield in UK.jpg|thumb|[[Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2]] [[glider (sailplane)|glider]] with factory winglets [[Gliding#winchlaunch|winch-launching]]]]

In 1987, [[mechanical engineering|mechanical engineer]] [[Peter Masak]] called on aerodynamicist [[Mark D. Maughmer]], an associate professor of aerospace engineering at the [[Pennsylvania State University]], about designing winglets to improve performance on his {{convert|15|m|ft|adj=on|sp=us}} wingspan racing [[sailplane]]. Others had attempted to apply Whitcomb's winglets to gliders before, and they did improve climb performance, but this did not offset the parasitic drag penalty in high-speed cruise. Masak was convinced it was possible to overcome this hurdle.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.engr.psu.edu/newsevents/EPS/v16n3_2000summer/tip.htm |title= The tip of the iceberg |author= Curtis Chan |date= Summer 2000 |volume= 16 |issue= 3 |work= Engineering Penn State magazine |url-status= bot: unknown |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040611220212/http://www.engr.psu.edu/newsevents/EPS/v16n3_2000summer/tip.htm |archive-date= 2004-06-11 }}</ref> By trial and error, they ultimately developed successful winglet designs for [[gliding competitions]], using a new PSU–90–125 [[airfoil]], designed by Maughmer specifically for the winglet application. At the 1991 [[World Gliding Championships]] in [[Uvalde, Texas]], the trophy for the highest speed went to a winglet-equipped 15-meter class limited wingspan glider, exceeding the highest speed in the unlimited span [[Glider competition classes|Open Class]], an exceptional result.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Masak|first=Peter|date=April–May 1992|title=Winglet Design for Sailplanes|journal=Free Flight|volume=1992|issue=2|page=8|issn=0827-2557|url=http://www.postfrontal.com/PDF/Winglets_01.pdf}}</ref> Masak went on to win the 1993 U.S. 15 Meter Nationals gliding competition, using winglets on his prototype [[Masak Scimitar]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://ridgesewing.com/mifflin/contests.htm |title= Past Mifflin Contests |publisher= Mifflin Soaring Association}}</ref>

[[File:PSU-90-125.PNG|thumb|PSU-90-125 winglet [[airfoil]] profile]]
The Masak winglets were originally retrofitted to production sailplanes, but within 10 years of their introduction, most high-performance gliders were equipped from the factory with winglets or other wingtip devices.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mandhsoaring.com/Why%20Winglets/WL-Soaring.pdf |title= About Winglets |author= Mark D. Maughmer |work= [[Soaring Magazine]] |date= June 2002 |author-link= Mark D. Maughmer }}</ref> It took over a decade for winglets to first appear on a production airliner, the original application that was the focus of the NASA development. Yet, once the advantages of winglets were proven in competition, adoption was swift with gliders. The point difference between the winner and the runner-up in soaring competition is often less than one percent, so even a small improvement in efficiency is a significant competitive advantage. Many non-competition pilots fitted winglets for handling benefits such as increased [[roll (flight)|roll rate]] and roll authority and reduced tendency for wing tip [[stall (flight)|stall]]. The benefits are notable, because sailplane winglets must be removable to allow the glider to be stored in a [[Trailer (vehicle)|trailer]], so they are usually installed only at the pilot's preference.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

The [[Glaser-Dirks DG-300|Glaser-Dirks DG-303]], an early glider derivative design, incorporating winglets as factory standard equipment.