
Aviation Partners Company Timeline
1991
- Joe Clark and Dennis Washington form Aviation Partners, Inc. (API).
- Dr.
Bernie Gratzer and a dream team of retired Boeing and Lockheed aerospace engineers
launch Blended Winglet Program for the Gulfstream II.
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.
1994
- September 20: Dr. Bernie Gratzer receives patent #5,348,253 for Blended
Winglets.
1995
- June 9: Clay Lacy knocks two hours off the Los Angeles to Paris World
Speed Record on a Gulfstream II equipped with API Blended Winglets.
1996
- November 19: Clay Lacy establishes 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 in a Gulfstream II equipped with API Blended Winglets.
1997
- At the Paris Air Show, Joe Clark and Borge Boeskov, VP Boeing Business, join
forces to make plans to develop Blended Winglets for the Boeing Business Jet.
1999
- Aviation Partners Blended Winglets flight tested on Boeing Business Jet.
- Aviation Partners Boeing (APB), a joint venture between Aviation Partners
Inc. and The Boeing Company, formed to offer Blended Winglets for Boeing aircraft.
Blended Winglets are offered as a standard feature on the Boeing Business Jet.
2000
- September 5th: APB awarded Supplemental Type Certificate for Boeing 737-BBJ
Blended Winglets.
- Hapag-Lloyd is the first airline to operate a Boeing 737-800 with retrofit
Blended Winglet technology.
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.
- March 23rd: APB awarded Supplemental Type Certificate for 737-800 Blended
Winglets.
- Hapag-Lloyd is the first airline to operate a Boeing 737-800 with retrofit
Blended Winglet technology.
2002
- Virgin Blue sets world record in 737-700 wearing Blended Winglets.
- Longest flight ever: Maui to Christchurch New Zealand ( 5016 mile).
- April 27th: API installs 100th Blended Winglet shipset on the legendary
Gulfstream II.
2003
- May 29th: APB awarded STC for 737-300 Blended Winglets
- May 29th: APB awarded Supplemental Type Certificate for 737-300 Blended Winglets.
- APB announces that Southwest Airlines has ordered 169 shipsets of retrofit
Blended Winglets for their fleet.
2004
- September 13th: API awarded Supplemental Type Certificate for Hawker
800 Blended Winglets.
2005
- May 23rd: APB awarded Supplemental Type Certificate for 757-200 Blended Winglets.
- October 31st: Virgin Express becomes the first customer to order 737-300
Blended Winglets.
2006
- 1000th Blended Winglet installed on American Airlines 757-200.
2007
- March - May: Coca Cola installs Blended Winglets on their fleet of 4 Hawker
800 series jets.
- March 30th: APB and Alaska Airlines enter into Hometown Partnership;
Alaska Airlines agrees to install Blended Winglets on all future new 737-NG
aircraft deliveries.
- May 24th: APB awarded Supplemental Type Certificate for 737-500 Blended
Winglets.
- October 10th: APB awarded FAA Supplemental Type Certificate for 737-900
Blended Winglets.
2008
- July - August: American Airlines flight tests first 767-300ER equipped
with Blended Winglets.
2009
- May: API
Winglets Certified for Falcon 2000 Series