{{Short description|Company in Seattle, Washington}} [[File:Hawker800SP N270HC 258020.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Hawker 800|Hawker 800SP]] with API winglets]] '''Aviation Partners Inc.''' ('''API''') is a [[Seattle]]-based private [[corporation]] that specializes in performance-enhancing [[Wingtip device|winglet]] systems. The corporation was founded in 1991 and is owned by [[The Washington Companies]].
==History== API was founded in 1991 by [[Joe Clark (aeronautics)|Joe Clark]] and [[Dennis Washington]], bringing together a team consisting primarily of retired [[Boeing]] and [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]] engineers and [[flight test]] department directors. His design team was led by Dr. Louis "Bernie" Gratzer, who retired from Boeing that same year (after a distinguished career which included the aerodynamic design of the [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker|KC-135]], [[Boeing 707|707]] and [[Boeing 727|727]]) and immediately began with API, with title of senior vice president.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=9 June 2014 |title=Bernie Gratzer died at his home near Seattle on 31 May 2014. He was 93. |magazine=Aviation Week & Space Technology |page=14}}</ref>
Washington, an American 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.<ref name=API/> Together with a group of aviation specialists, Clark developed a new winglet, and with permission from [[Gulfstream Aerospace|Gulfstream]], fitted the winglet to Washington's jet. Test flights confirmed a fuel saving and range increase of 4–5%.<ref name=API/> 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.<ref name="API">{{Cite magazine |date=March 2009 |title=API - Performance Enhancing Winglets |magazine=Airliner World}}</ref>
In 1997, API's winglets were sold as a standard fit on all [[Boeing Business Jet]]s, and winglets were offered as an addition to standard 737s. Around 95% of all 737 customers want winglets fitted.<ref name=API/> [[File:Boeing 737 blended winglet 0007.JPG|thumb|left|An API blended winglet on a Boeing 737-800]]
Aviation Partners formed a joint venture with [[Boeing]], called '''Aviation Partners Boeing''' (APB), in 1997. This entity licenses the Blended Winglet Technology for use on Boeing aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home | Aviation Partners Boeing |url=http://www.aviationpartnersboeing.com/ |website=www.aviationpartnersboeing.com}}</ref> Starting with the [[Boeing Business Jet]], winglets have been factory installed onto the [[Boeing 737 Next Generation]] as well as retrofitted on 737 'Classic' (Boeing 737-300 and -500) and [[Boeing 757|757]] and [[Boeing 767|767-300ER]] airliners.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home | Aviation Partners Boeing |url=http://www.aviationpartnersboeing.com/products/767-300ER.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222042743/http://www.aviationpartnersboeing.com/products/767-300ER.html |archive-date=February 22, 2008 |website=www.aviationpartnersboeing.com}}</ref>
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 [[European Business Aviation Association#Annual event: EBACE|EBACE 2007]], [[Dassault Aviation]], in conjunction with Aviation Partners, announced the [[Dassault Falcon 2000|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 [[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]] certification on April 16, 2009, with the 900 series receiving certification in September 2011. Dassault and API have also certified winglets for the Falcon 50 series aircraft.
Airbus worked with Aviation Partners from 2006 through 2011, in an effort to modernize its [[Airbus A320 family|A320 family]] of jets. In 2011, however, Airbus announced that it came up with its own design, which it branded "sharklets," and obtained a patent in Europe. In December 2011, Airbus filed suit in Texas seeking to invalidate Aviation Partners' 1994 winglet patent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 January 2012 |title=Seattle based winglet manufacturer fights airbus lawsuit |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/seattle-based-winglet-manufacturer-fights-airbus-lawsuit/ |publisher=seattletimes.com}}</ref> Airbus settled the lawsuit by making a large payment to Aviation Partners in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airbus Aviation Partners Sharklet Wingtip Dispute |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2018/05/23/airbus-aviation-partners-sharklet-wingtip-dispute.html}}</ref>
By 2009, API's product had been introduced to the [[Boeing 757]], [[Boeing 767]], and several business jets.<ref name=API/>
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%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blended Winglets and Spiroid Technology |url=http://www.aviationpartners.com/future.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130000903/http://www.aviationpartners.com/future.html |archive-date=30 November 2016 |access-date=25 September 2009 |publisher=aviationpartners.com}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=February 2026|reason=This is from 2009}}
[[File:Boeing 737 and 757 scimitar winglets comparison.jpg|thumb|A Scimitar Blended Winglet on the wingtip of a Boeing 757 (left), across from a Split Scimitar Winglet on a Boeing 737-900ER (right)]] APB's Split Scimitar Winglet retrofit program consists of retrofitting 737NG's winglets by replacing the aluminum winglet tip cap with a new aerodynamically shaped "Scimitar" winglet tip cap and by adding a new Scimitar tipped ventral strake. This modification demonstrated approximately 2% drag reduction over the basic Blended Winglet configuration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winglets Offer Substantial Fuel Savings |url=http://www.aviationpartnersboeing.com/products_737_800SSW.php#ChartData |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625075535/http://www.aviationpartnersboeing.com/products_737_800SSW.php |archive-date=2015-06-25 |publisher=aviationpartnersboeing.com}}</ref> FAA granted supplemental type certification (STC) for the Split Scimitar Winglet (SSW) retrofit on the 737-800 and BBJ2 on February 6, 2014, for 737-900ER on August 27, 2014, for 3 additional 737-800 wing configuration on October 2, 2014, and for all models of the 737-700 including the Boeing Business Jet on April 21, 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Company History / Timeline |url=http://www.aviationpartnersboeing.com/about_history.php |publisher=aviationpartnersboeing.com}}</ref>
APB expects Scimitar Winglet Systems installed on a 737-800 to save the typical airline more than 45,000 gallons of [[jet fuel]] per aircraft per year resulting in a corresponding reduction of [[carbon dioxide]] emissions of 476 tons per aircraft per year. The fuel savings can enable a 737-800 to increase its payload up to 2,500 pounds or increase its range up to 75 nautical miles. APB also expects to certify an improvement in low speed performance that will generate significant take-off benefits from high/hot or obstacle limited runways.<ref name="https://web.archive.org/web/20130501174430/http://m.prnewswire.com/">{{Cite web |title=Aviation Partners Boeing Launches Split Scimitar Winglet Program |url=http://m.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aviation-partners-boeing-launches-split-scimitar-winglet-program-186934521.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118024147/http://m.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aviation-partners-boeing-launches-split-scimitar-winglet-program-186934521.html |archive-date=18 January 2013 |access-date=19 January 2013 |website=m.prnewswire.com}}</ref> The first European Split Scimitar Winglets were installed on the TUI fleet aircraft in Stansted in 2014 by Chevron Technical Services Ltd.
The Boeing 757 blended winglets have also been updated with a scimitar tip. The Boeing 757 Scimitar Blended Winglet improves fuel burn by 1.1% over the original blended winglet.<ref name="Scimitar blended winglets">{{Cite web |date=February 15, 2017 |title=Icelandair the First to Operate 757-200 Scimitar Blended Winglets in Europe |url=https://www.aviationpartnersboeing.com/pdf/pr/2017/APB_ICE_757SBW%20PR_Final%202-15-17.pdf |access-date=September 20, 2024}}</ref> Icelandair and United Airlines have retrofitted their 757-200s with Scimitar Blended Winglets.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 27, 2016 |title=United Moves Forward with 757 Scimitar Winglets Installation |url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2016/10/27/united-moves-forward-with-757-split-scimitar-winglets-installation/ |access-date=September 20, 2024 |website=AirlineGeeks}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official |http://www.aviationpartners.com/}}
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[[Category:Aircraft manufacturers of the United States]] [[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Seattle]] [[Category:American companies established in 1991]] [[Category:Aircraft wing design]]