Company History

1991

  • Joe Clark and Dennis Washington form Aviation Partners, Inc. (API) and hire Dr. Bernie Gratzer and a dream team of retired Boeing and Lockheed aerospace engineers.

1993

  • Aviation Partners, Inc. installs high-aspect-ratio Blended Winglets on Gulfstream II and immediately markets the retrofit after FAA approval.
  • Aviation Partners, Inc. 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 20th: Dr. Bernie Gratzer receives patent #5,348,253 for Blended Winglets.

1995

  • Clay Lacy knocks two hours off the Los Angeles to Paris World Speed Record on a Gulfstream II with API Blended Winglets.

1996

  • Clay Lacy established 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 on a Gulfstream II with API Blended Winglets.

1999

  • Aviation Partners, Inc. Blended Winglets tested on Boeing Business Jet.
  • Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) joint venture 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 737-BBJ Blended Winglets.

2001

  • 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.
  • South African Airlines is first to order winglet-equipped Boeing 737-800s, stating that the winglets allow the 737 to outperform the rival Airbus A320 on long flights.
  • Air-Berlin is first to fly a Boeing 737-800 with factory-installed Blended Winglets.
  • August 27th: APB awarded Supplemental Type Certificate for 737-700 Blended Winglets.

2002

  • July 8th: Copa Airlines becomes first operator in Americas to fly with Blended Winglet technology.

2003

  • May 29th: APB awarded Supplemental Type Certificate for 737-300 Blended Winglets.
  • June 2nd: WestJet Airlines orders up to 94 shipsets of 737-NG Blended Winglets
  • June 12th: Southwest Airlines orders 169 shipsets of 737-700 retrofit Blended Winglets.

2004

  • April 26th: Continental Airlines becomes the first U.S. Major to order Blended Winglets when they place an order for both 757-200 and 737-NG Blended Winglets.
  • May 9th: Shandong Airlines becomes first Chinese operator to order Blended Winglets from APB.
  • July 9th: All Nippon Airways orders 45 shipsets of 737-700 Blended Winglets.
  • October 16th: 500th shipset of Blended is installed on a Continental Airlines 737-800.

2005

  • February 24th: Ryanair places largest single order in APB’s history announcing that they will purchase 225 shipsets of 737-800 Blended Winglets.
  • May 23rd: APB awarded Supplemental Type Certificate for 757-200 Blended Winglets.
  • October 24th: GOL Linhas Areas Inteligentes S.A. orders 60 shipsets of 737-800 Blended Winglets.
  • October 31st: Virgin Express becomes the first customer to order 737-300 Blended Winglets.

2006

  • March 29th: American Airlines orders 76 additional shipsets of 737-800 Blended Winglets.
  • May 1st: 1000th shipset of Blended Winglets is installed on an American Airlines 757-200.
  • May 26th: Northwest Airlines orders 757-200 Blended Winglets.
  • June 20th: Southwest Airlines orders up to 90 shipsets of 737-300 Blended Winglets.
  • July 19th: American Airlines orders 104 additional shipsets of 757-200 Blended Winglets.
  • September 26th: Continental Airlines orders 48 shipsets of 737-300 and 737-500 Blended Winglets.
  • September 26th: With orders from Continental Airlines, KLM, and Alaska Airlines, APB launches certification program for 737-900 Blended Winglets.
  • October 12th: US Airways orders 757-200 Blended Winglets.

2007

  • February 22nd: APB receives 2007 Airline Industry Aviation Technology Achievement award from Air Transport World.
  • March 22nd: United Airlines orders 757-200 Blended Winglets.
  • March 28th: With order from American Airlines for 47 shipsets, APB formally launches certification program for 767-300ER Blended Winglets.
  • 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 17th:  Delta Air Lines orders 737-800 retrofit; 737-700 in-production; and 757-200 Blended Winglets.
  • May 24th:  APB awarded FAA Supplemental Type Certificate for 737-500 Blended Winglets.
  • June 8th:  Delta Air Lines orders 767-300ER Blended Winglets.
  • September 13th:  Aviation Capital Group commits to order for 100+ 737-700/800 in-production Blended Winglet Systems.
  • September 14th:  Air Berlin orders 85 737-700/800 in-production Blended Winglets Systems.
  • October 10th:  APB awarded FAA Supplemental Type Certificate for 737-900 Blended Winglets.
  • December 6th: 2000th shipset of Blended Winglets is installed on a Continental Airlines 737-900.
  • December 21st:  AirTran orders 54 737-700 Blended Winglet Systems completing fleet-wide transition to Blended Winglets.

2008

  • March 15th: Norwegian Air Shuttle orders 42 737-800 in-production Blended Winglet Systems.
  • March 20th: Turkish Airlines orders 22 737-800 retrofit Blended Winglet Systems to complete 100% fleet transition to Blended Winglet technology.
  • March 26th: Xiamen Airlines orders 37 737-800 in-production Blended Winglet Systems.
  • April 2nd: Southwest Airlines exercises options for 31 additional 737-300 Blended Winglet Systems.
  • April 17th: RBS Aviation Capital orders 40 additional 737-700/800 in-production Blended Winglet Systems.
  • May 19th: TUIfly Nordic becomes 7th customer for 767-300ER Blended Winglets.
  • June 4th: GOL orders 40 additional 737-700/800 in-production Blended Winglet Systems.
  • June 16th: DHL becomes 8th customer for 767-300ER Blended Winglets.
  • June 26th: With orders from Continental Airlines and Condor, APB formally launches 757-300 Blended Winglet certification program.
  • July 17th: FlyDubai orders 50 737-700/800 in-production Blended Winglet Systems.
  • July 20th: 767-300ER Blended Winglets make first flight (non-revenue) to start certification flight test program.
  • July 23rd: DAE Capital orders 50 737-700/800 in-production Blended Winglet Systems.