Aviation Partners Blended Winglets

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  • 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 in 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-Lloydis 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: APB flight tests Blended Winglets for the Boeing 767-300ER

  • 2009

    May: API Winglets Certified for Falcon 2000 Series

  • Coming soon

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Leaders in Advanced Winglet Technology

Aviation Partners, Inc. (API) is the world leader in advanced Winglet technology. API’s patented* Performance Enhancing Blended Winglets have been designed and certified for a number of commercial and business aircraft; applications include Boeing, Falcon, Hawker and Gulfstream airframes. Over 5,000 in-service aircraft have saved an estimated 3 billion gallons of fuel. In addition to the 5-7% improvement in fuel burn, Blended Winglets have reduced global CO2 emissions by over 32 million tons. Additional airframe programs are in-development for existing Blended Winglet technology, and future Winglet designs will lead to greater incremental improvements in performance, fuel savings and emissions reduction. (* patent #5348253)