“The most reliable way to predict the future is to invent it,” says CEO Joe Clark.
October 16, 2006, Seattle WA. – Aviation Partners — the world’s leading design, organization for wingtip devices – has developed a new “Hi-Mach” Super Critical winglet optimized for maximum efficiency for high speed cruise. Designed for cruise at Mach .80, the new winglets reduce drag, increase range and will save even more fuel than traditional Blended WingletTechnology.
“We anticipate a very strong market for High-Mach winglets as there are a lot of operators who like to cruise at Mach .80 and above,” says Aviation Partners CEO Joe Clark. “Typically, when you get into 30-40% of the drag rise overall aerodynamic resistance tends to reduce the winglet benefits at higher speeds. Using our advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) applications we’ve found a way to get deeper into the drag rise and provide a much better benefit.”
Hi-Mach Winglets, on display for the first time at NBAA, provide range improvement of more than 5% at high-speed cruise which translates into range improvement up to 8% at long-range cruise speeds. Now, operators can enjoy all the benefits of Blended WingletTechnology but with augmented performance at higher cruise speeds says Aviation Partners Senior Vice President of Marketing Dick Friel.
“At Aviation Partners, we’re continuously searching for Advanced Winglet Technologies to increase range, save fuel and be environmentally beneficial. With 1500 Blended Winglet shipsets now delivered, and flying, there’s no question that we’ve taken the leadership position in wingtip devices. Our only limitation is our ability to expand and our focus has always been to be better, not bigger.”
Aviation Partners Blended Winglet Performance Systems have saved commercial and corporate operators close to half a billion gallons of fuel as of mid October 2006. Blended Winglet Programs for the Raytheon Hawker 800 and 800XP ($425,000 installed) – which re-designates the aircraft as 800SPs and 800XP2s – allow operators to save up to 7% in fuel burn, fly 180 nm farther, cruise 18-kts faster and achieve 2000 foot higher initial cruise altitudes.
“How often do you get to take an existing asset and improve its performance so dramatically?” asks Clark. “What Blended Winglet Technology has done for commercial and business aviation is nothing short of extraordinary. The market for wingtip devices is in growth mode and we’ve only just scratched the surface.”
*Patent# 5348253
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