Aviation Partners Blended Winglets

Aviation Partners Boeing

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Blended Winglets

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Aviation Partners Company Timeline

Aviation Partners

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

Find out how we're doing our part for a greener world.

Contact our regional sales team to learn more about upgrading to Aviation Partners' patented Blended Winglet technology.