May 18, 2015… Aviation Partners, Inc. (API) announced today that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently granted Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval for the Split Scimitar Winglet (SSW) retrofit on BBJ aircraft. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval is expected to follow shortly. The approval was granted to Aviation Partners Boeing (APB), a joint venture between API and The Boeing Company, on April 21st after extensive certification flight testing. The flight test was carried out on a green BBJ which was modified at PATS Aircraft Systems in Georgetown, Delaware. The first inservice BBJ with SSWs installed is on display at the EBACE static display.
Using a newly patented API design, the SSW program completely redefines the aerodynamics of the existing Blended Winglet. The retrofit to the existing Blended Winglet consists of adding a new Scimitar-tipped large Ventral Strake, beef up of internal winglet structure, and replacement of the aluminum winglet tip caps with new aerodynamically shaped Scimitar tip caps. The unique feature of the SSW is that it builds on the existing Blended Winglet design to provide a dramatic performance improvement without increasing the existing wing span.
Split Scimitar Winglets are now approved for the Boeing 737-700, -800 and -900 series. Orders and options for around 1,700 airliners have already been received, and approximately 500 upgraded aircraft in-service around the world are already enjoying the performance benefits provided by this latest technology. For long-range BBJ operations, the SSW will provide a drag reduction, and corresponding range increase, of two plus percent over the current Blended Winglet configuration.
“We are already seeing huge interest in Split Scimitar Winglets from the BBJ community. The range benefit is tremendously compelling given the missions many BBJ owners undertake,” said Gary Dunn, API Vice President of Sales & Marketing, “the upgrade will essentially give a BBJ with seven aux tanks the range of an eight aux tank airplane.” API is the exclusive provider of SSWs for all BBJ, BBJ2 and BBJ3 aircraft; in addition to original Blended Winglets for VIP Boeing 757/767 as well as Hawker 800 series and Falcon 900/2000/50 series airframes. For more information visit API at EBACE (stand #T062).
Aviation Partners, Inc. Seattle, Washington based Aviation Partners, Inc. (API) is the world leader in advanced Winglet technology. API’s patented Performance Enhancing Blended Winglets™ have been designed and certified for a number of commercial and business aircraft; applications include Boeing, Falcon, Hawker and Gulfstream airframes. Over 6,000 in-service aircraft have saved an estimated 4.9 billion gallons of fuel. In addition to the improvement in fuel burn, Blended Winglets have reduced global CO2 emissions by approximately 52 million tons. Additional airframe programs are in-development, and future Winglet designs will lead to greater incremental improvements in performance, fuel savings and emissions reduction.
For further information contact:
Gary Dunn Vice President, Sales & Marketing
+1 206 310 2904 or +1 206 762 1171
gdunn@winglets.com
