History
API was founded in 1991 by Joe Clark and Dennis Washington, bringing together a team consisting primarily of retired Boeing and Lockheed engineers and flight test department directors.
Washington, a US entrepreneur who made his money from copper mining, was frustrated that his private jet could not fly coast-to-coast in the US without refueling. Instead of buying a new aircraft, he approached his friend Joe Clark who had experience in the aviation industry having co-founded Horizon Air. Clark calculated that by increasing the wings' performance, non-stop coast-to-coast flying would be possible. Together with a group of aviation specialists, Clark developed a new winglet, and with the permission from Gulfstream, fitted the winglet to Washington's jet. Test flights confirmed a fuel saving and range increase of 4-5%. Washington and Clark then set out on a publicity campaign to sell the idea. They started setting a number of World Records in performance with the winglets.
In 1997, API's winglets were sold as a standard fit on all Boeing Business Jets, and winglets were offered as an addition to standard 737s. Around 95% of all 737 customers want winglets fitted.
In 1999, Aviation Partners, in a joint venture with Boeing, formed Aviation Partners Boeing (APB), which licenses the Blended Winglet Technology for use on a wide range of Boeing designed aircraft. Starting with the Boeing Business Jet, winglets have been factory installed onto the Boeing 737 Next Generation as well as retrofitted on 737 ‘Classic’ and 757 airliners. Winglets are also available for the 767-300ER.
In addition to the Boeing airliner programs, API has certified winglets for the Hawker 800 series jets and has over 100 Blended Winglet equipped Hawkers in service, as of December 2008.
At EBACE 2007, Dassault Aviation, in conjunction with Aviation Partners, announced the Falcon 2000 LX aircraft. A derivative of the Falcon 2000 EX airframe, it is the first aircraft to be put into production with API's new High Mach winglets. The Falcon 2000-winglets received FAA certification on April 16, 2009 with the 900 series receiving certification in September 2011. Dassault and API also are developing winglets for the Falcon 50 series aircraft.
On December 17, 2008, Airbus announced it was to begin flight testing a new Blended Winglet design, developed by Aviation Partners, as part of a comprehensive A320 modernization program.
By 2009 API's product had been introduced to the Boeing 757, Boeing 767, several Business Jets and a trial was being conducted by Airbus for use on the Airbus A320 family.
Aviation Partners is currently developing the Spiroid winglet, a closed wing surface mounted at the end of a conventional wing. Initial testing using a Gulfstream II test aircraft has shown the winglet design to reduce fuel consumption in the cruise phase by over 10%.
Read more about this topic: Aviation Partners Inc.
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