Yester Year

10 Years Ago

• Boeing said on June 4 testing had begun of 2. 4m high vertical blended winglets on a 737-800 with a view to their introduction on their new Boeing Business Jet. Tests will identify if the winglets reduce drag and produce a range-performance enhancement for the BBJ, which is derived from the 737-700 but incorporates the -800’s strengthened wings and undercarriage.

• The US Department of Defence said on June 2 that following an easing of tension over Iraq it will begin a reduction of its forces in the area to levels which existed before the crisis began. In late May the US said it would maintain only one aircraft carrier, the USS John C Stennis, in the Gulf following the departure of the USS Independence for Japan and the US where it will be decommissioned.