Aircraft
Aviation Partners Eyes Next Bizav Winglet Project
Pioneering blended winglet developer Aviation Partners analyzes case for retrofits on unnamed in-service platform
As it highlights the sustainability benefits of blended winglets, Aviation Partners is examining opportunities for other business jets that could benefit from a winglet modification.
As it highlights the sustainability benefits of blended winglets, Aviation Partners is examining opportunities for other business jets that could benefit from a winglet modification.

Aviation Partners (Booth X33)—developer of the blended winglets seen on business jets, including Falcons, Hawkers, and BBJs (and Boeing airliners), and the inspiration for the winglets many OEMs have since designed for their own jets—may soon add another aircraft to the list of models retrofittable with the fuel-saving devices. “We are in the early stages of analyzing a potential airframe for winglets,” Aviation Partners president Gary Dunn told AIN this week at EBACE.

Though any announcement about the program, if it proceeds, would be some months off, Dunn said the platform has a large in-service fleet, in keeping with its usual practices. “Almost anything we've ever done started out as an aftermarket or retrofit plan,” said Dunn.