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1991
• Joe Clark and Dennis Washington form Aviation Partners (AP) and hire Dr. L.B. Gratzer and a dream team of retired Boeing and Lockheed aerospace engineers.

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1993
• Aviation Partners installs high-aspect-ratio Blended Winglets on Gulfstream II and immediately markets the retrofit after FAA approval.
• Aviation Partners flight-tests Spiroid wingtips on a Gulfstream II and achieves more than 10% greater fuel-efficiency at cruise but delays commercialization in favor of Blended Winglets that are more stylish and more easily satisfy FAA and aircraft authorities.
• Bernie Gratzer receives patent #5,348,253 for Blended Winglets.

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1995
• Clay Lacy knocks two hours off the Los Angeles to Paris World Speed Record on a Gulfstream II with AP Winglets.

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1996
• Clay Lacy established seven new time-to-climb records, including a dramatic climb from sea level to 40,000 ft (12,000 m) in just 6 minutes and 20 seconds on a Gulfstream II with AP winglets.

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1999
• Aviation Partners Blended Winglets tested on Boeing Business Jet.
• Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) joint venture formed to apply winglets to all suitable Boeing aircraft. The winglet is offered as a standard feature of the Boeing Business Jet.
• Qantas purchases 15 winglet-equipped Boeing 737-800s and takes options for at least 40 more - citing the winglet as a deciding factor.

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2000
• Hapag-Lloyd is the first airline to operate a Boeing 737-800 with retrofit Blended Winglet technology.
• South African Airlines is first to order winglet-equipped Boeing 737-800s, stating that the winglets make the 737 outperform the rival Airbus A320 on long flights.
• AirBerlin is first to fly a Boeing 737 with factory-option Blended Winglets.

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2001
• Blended Winglet program is announced for Raytheon Hawker 800 business jets with 7% increase in cruise fuel efficiency and significant improvements in take-off, initial cruise altitude, and range.