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*** Andrews Air Force Based C-32s will fly farther, and more
efficiently, with “Blended Winglets” ***
October 16, 2006, Seattle WA. – The Department of Defense spending bill recently signed into law by President George W. Bush included $5 million to outfit the Air Force “C-32” transport fleet at Andrews Air Force Base with “Blended Winglets”.
The provision, championed by Congressman Norm Dicks (D-WA06), was funded through a classic example of bipartisan cooperation. Dicks worked with Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Duncan Hunter, and Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Committee, BillYoung, both republicans, to successfully have funding for the program included in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which was signed into law on September 29, 2006.
The C-32 is the military version of Boeing’s 757-200, used by the Secretary of State, Vice President and other senior government officials. The US Air Force C-32s are routinely tasked with global mission requirements. Benefits to the US Department of Defense will include the same important range benefits, augmented fuel reserves on long-range missions, reduced environmental emissions and significant cost savings, due to dramatically reduced fuel burn, that the airline world now enjoys thanks to “Blended Winglet” Technology.
According to Dicks, it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved – from the Department of Defense to taxpayers.
“The ‘Blended Winglet’ technology developed by Aviation Partners offers real savings for the Defense Department through increased range and greater fuel efficiency,” said Rep. Dicks, a senior member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. “I am confident that the initial C-32 winglet retrofits will demonstrate very clearly that a variety of Defense Department aircraft can achieve the same substantial gains that commercial airlines have experienced,” he added.
Aviation Partners developed “Blended Winglet” technology over 15 years ago and, today, over 1500 airline and business aircraft are now equipped and flying with “Blended Winglets.” Over the next 5 years, says Aviation Partners CEO Joe Clark, an additional 5000 aircraft will be upgraded with “Blended Winglets” and this figure will include a growing number of military and Department of Defense aircraft.
“All of us at Aviation Partners are very pleased that the United States Air Force will be taking advantage of our technology. This clearly demonstrates acceptance of our winglets, at the highest possible levels, and it will give the Department of Defense an opportunity to closely review the performance and fuel savings advantages of “Blended Winglet” Technology for application on other government aircraft.”
“Blended Winglet” equipped aircraft are now flying on 6 continents. As of mid-October, ‘Blended Winglet’ Performance Systems have saved commercial and corporate operators close to half a billion gallons of fuel. Typical ‘Blended Winglet’ equipped Boeing 757-200s, in airline application, save 150,000 – 300,000 gallons of fuel per aircraft per year.
*Patent# 5348253
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