Dec 18, 2025

Founder Joe Clark Honored in Palm Springs

Palm Springs isn’t officially the home of Aviation Partners, Inc., but it holds an important place in the history of the company and its founder, Joe Clark. And now that connection to the desert will have a lasting memorial and tribute to Clark and the many military members who have passed through the region at the Palm Springs International Airport.

In December, Aviation Partners President Gary Dunn was on hand at PSP to help dedicate an Aviation Partners’ designed Split Scimitar Winglet, with patriotic custom livery, on long-term loan with the Palm Springs Air Museum.

PSP will now permanently host the monument honoring Clark, which was made possible by both Aviation Partners and the Air Museum.

The Winglet display in the Agua Caliente concourse is a fitting addition to PSP’s impressive collection of art and exhibits, with it also being a visual supporter of veterans and active-duty military personnel, who routinely use the airport.

“Today we had the honor of dedicating the monument to Joe Clark at the Palm Springs International Airport/Auga Caliente Terminal,” said Fred Bell, Vice Chairman of the Palm Springs Air Museum at the dedication. “A giant in aviation, he was supportive of many museums and education efforts revolving around the technology of flight. It was an honor, when Joe passed, that our aircraft escorted him on his final plane ride home. We will always thank him for the support of our education efforts. We would also like to thank Aviation Partners, the City of Palm Springs, the Airport Commission, and the Airport staff for their support in making this project a reality.”

As visitors can now learn from the monument, the Split Scimitar Winglet helped redefine the aerodynamics of flying and boosted performance on Boeing 737 aircraft worldwide. It was developed through a joint venture, Aviation Partners Boeing, and could be seen on the wings of many commercial airlines that have served Palm Springs for years.

Clark, a lifelong entrepreneur, aviation enthusiast and frequent Palm Springs visitor, founded Aviation Partners in 1991. At the time of the dedication, his performance and sustainability focused improvements – Blended Winglets and Split Scimitar Winglets flying on approximately 10,000 aircraft – have saved over 17 billion gallons of jet fuel, and reduced CO2 emissions by an estimated 166 million tons.

Dunn had the privilege to conduct the ribbon cutting in front of the assembled guests which included media members, airport executives, and board members and docents from the museum. He also spoke, along with Bell and Kevin J. Corcoran, Chairman of the Palm Springs Airport Commission, about Clark’s impact on aviation, the work behind the scenes to get the winglet here, and how this display will inspire future generations with PSP’s more than 3 million travelers annually.

“The Palm Springs International Airport is proud to host the monument to Joe Clark. His commitment to innovation and technology had a significant impact on the world of flight and travel,” Corcoran said. “We are thrilled to share his story with the millions of passengers and guests who travel through PSP and appreciate the opportunity provided by Aviation Partners and the Palm Springs Air Museum to make it happen.”

In the middle of the festivities, a special guest showed up – uninvited, but welcomed.

“The most surprising, and quite magical, moment during the dedication ceremony was the arrival of an unexpected guest. One who was neither on the guest list, nor went through TSA screening to be there,” Dunn said. “Right as Fred started speaking about Joe, a hummingbird arrived on location, then hovered between and around Fred and I for a good 10 seconds! I’ve seen a good many birds around airports in my years of traveling, but this is the first time I’ve seen a hummingbird. Those in attendance said it felt like Joe did a quick turn at his own dedication ceremony.”

While future PSP visitors might not be avian, they can all spend a moment to reflect upon the stars-and-stripes decorated Winglet and learn how aviation has changed because of Clark.