Aviation Partners
Aviation Partners, founded in 1991 and headquartered in Seattle, designs and markets patented Blended Winglet systems for Dassault Falcon, Hawker, and Boeing aircraft, delivering 5-7% fuel savings to business jet operators, commercial airlines (via a Boeing joint venture), and government/military fleets worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Aviation Partners does
Aviation Partners, Inc. is a Seattle-based aerospace company founded in 1991 by Joe Clark that designs, produces, and markets advanced-technology winglet systems for aircraft. Its core technology, the patented Blended Winglet, is an aerodynamic wingtip device with smooth chord variation at the wing-to-winglet interface that reduces wingtip vortices and drag, delivering 5-7% fuel burn savings, 180 nautical miles of additional range, 18 knots of additional cruise speed, and measurable improvements in climb performance and resale value. The product portfolio has expanded to include Split Scimitar Winglets, High-Mach Blended Winglets, Scimitar Tip Blended Winglets, and the experimental Spiroid closed-loop winglet, addressing Dassault Falcon, Hawker 800/800XP, Boeing Business Jet, Boeing 737/757/767, and Gulfstream platforms.
The company monetizes through one-time winglet kit sales (disclosed pricing ranges from $395K for a Hawker 800 retrofit to $575K for a Falcon 900/50 series pre-STC kit) plus coordination of installation through a global network of 14-plus authorized MRO facilities across North America, Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales, channel partners (including a Boeing joint venture for commercial aircraft, Aviation Partners Boeing), and event-driven demand generation at NBAA, EBACE, and LABACE. Primary customers are business jet operators seeking performance upgrades, with secondary segments in commercial airlines (via the Boeing JV), Boeing BBJ owners, and government/military fleets such as the U.S. DoD C-32 transport fleet. Aviation Partners Boeing and APiJET (a 2018 data-services venture) extend the business into commercial aviation hardware and recurring airline data services, respectively.
Aviation Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aviation Partners
- Legal name
- Aviation Partners, Inc.
- Website
- https://aviationpartners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Aviation Partners, founded in 1991 and headquartered in Seattle, designs and markets patented Blended Winglet systems for Dassault Falcon, Hawker, and Boeing aircraft, delivering 5-7% fuel savings to business jet operators, commercial airlines (via a Boeing joint venture), and government/military fleets worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aviation Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aircraft Aerodynamic Components
- NAICS
- Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (3364)
- SIC
- Aircraft & Parts (3720), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Modification, Retrofit & Engineering (STC, Avionics Upgrades, Conversions) (TLAKAJAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fixed-Wing Aircraft Conversion & Modification (STC/Completions) (IMABAAAI)
Keywords
Where Aviation Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Aviation Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Winglet Kit Sales (One-time License): Sale of patented winglet kits for aircraft retrofit or production installation. One-time purchase per aircraft. Includes proprietary Blended Winglet technology with associated engineering and certification.
- Installation Services: Coordination and support for authorized installation facilities performing winglet retrofits. Revenue generated through network of vetted MRO partners worldwide.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Hawker 800 Blended Winglet Kit ($395,000 installed) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Hawker 800XP Blended Winglet Kit ($425,000 installed) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Falcon 900/50 Series Blended Winglet Kit ($575,000) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Aviation Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aviation Partners designs, produces, and markets patented Blended Winglet systems that reduce wingtip vortices and aerodynamic drag on aircraft, delivering 5-7% fuel savings, increased range, and higher cruise performance. Winglet kits are sold for both new-production installation and retrofit onto existing aircraft — including Dassault Falcon (2000, 900, 50 series), Hawker 800/800XP, Boeing Business Jets, and Boeing 737/757/767 commercial aircraft via a joint venture. Installation is performed through a global network of authorized MRO partners.
Product overview
Aviation Partners is a physical products company specializing in advanced winglet technology for aircraft. Their portfolio centers on Blended Winglets—their core product—which reduce wingtip vortices and drag to improve fuel efficiency by 5-7%. The product lineup includes Falcon Winglets (for Dassault Falcon 2000/900/50 series), Hawker Winglets (for Hawker 800/800XP series), and Boeing BBJ Winglets (for Boeing Business Jets). Advanced variants include Split Scimitar Winglets (providing additional 30-40% performance gains over standard Blended), Scimitar Tip Blended Winglets (for Hawker), and High Mach Blended Winglets (optimized for Mach .80+ cruise speeds). Emerging technology includes experimental Spiroid Winglets. Winglets are available for both new production aircraft and retrofit to existing aircraft, with a global network of authorized MRO installation facilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Blended Winglets Aerodynamic wingtip devices with patented smooth chord variation that reduce wingtip vortices, decrease drag, and improve fuel efficiency by 5-7%. Available for Dassault Falcon, Hawker, Boeing, and Gulfstream aircraft via retrofit or production installation.
- Falcon Winglets Blended Winglets for Dassault Falcon aircraft including 2000, 900, and 50 series. Standard equipment on 2000LX/LXS/S and 900LX models, available for retrofit on existing aircraft.
- Hawker Winglets Scimitar Tip Blended Winglets for Hawker 800 and 800XP series aircraft, providing up to 7% fuel savings and improved climb performance. Retrofit kit pricing $395,000-$425,000 installed.
- Boeing BBJ Winglets Winglet systems for Boeing Business Jets including BBJ, BBJ2, and BBJ3, available in both standard Blended and Split Scimitar configurations for VIP and corporate operators.
- Split Scimitar Winglets Advanced winglet design with Scimitar-tipped ventral strakes and aerodynamic tip caps that build on the standard Blended Winglet to provide additional drag reduction, achieving 30-40% better cruise performance than the original Blended Winglet configuration.
- High-Mach Blended Winglets High-Mach variant of the Blended Winglet optimized for cruise speeds of Mach .80 and higher, providing 5% drag reduction at Mach .80 and over 7% at Long Range Cruise speeds. Available for Falcon 2000, 900, and 50 series.
- APiJET Data Services Data services venture that transforms raw aircraft operational data into structured, actionable information for Smart Aircraft integration across airline operational systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5-7% fuel savings per flight
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Aviation Partners
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Aviation Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Aviation Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- APiJETcoreVenture that transforms raw data from aircraft into actionable information, creating Smart Aircraft. Real-time data integrated into airline operational systems for improved efficiencies.
- Aviation Partners BoeingflagshipJoint venture with The Boeing Company established in 2005, taking Blended Winglets and Split Scimitar Winglets to commercial airlines worldwide. Provides winglets for Boeing 737, 757, and 767 aircraft. Nearly 20 years of partnership.
- Dassault Falcon JetcoreAuthorized installation facility for Falcon 2000, 900, and 50 Series winglets at Little Rock, AR and Melbourne, FL locations. Factory-authorized Falcon service center.
- Duncan AviationcoreAuthorized installer for Hawker 800 Series and Falcon winglets at Battle Creek, MI, Lincoln, NE, and Provo, UT. Major business aviation MRO provider.
- StandardAerocoreAuthorized installation center for Hawker 800/XP Blended Winglets at Augusta, GA and Springfield, IL locations.
- West Star AviationcoreAuthorized installation facility at Chattanooga, TN, East Alton, IL, and Grand Junction, CO for Falcon and Hawker winglets.
- Jet AviationminorInternational authorized installer at Basel, Switzerland and Singapore locations for winglet installations.
- Dassault Falcon ServicecoreAuthorized European installation facility at Paris-Le Bourget, France for Falcon winglets.
- SEAL AviationminorFAA/EASA repair station offering mobile installation option for Falcon winglets, first mobile option for this product, based in Fort Pierce, FL.
- Western AircraftminorFAA Class 1, 2, 3, and 4 Repair Station in Boise, Idaho; Dassault-authorized Falcon Jet Heavy Service Center. Supports western US, Canada, and Mexico.
- Yingling Aviationminor78-year-old MRO in Wichita, Kansas specializing in Textron Aviation airframes and expanding into Falcon winglets.
- Volare AviationminorUK-based authorized installation partner for Hawker Blended Winglet retrofit, first European installation partner.
- ExecuJet MRO ServicesminorInternational authorized installer at Lanseria, South Africa for winglet installations.
- 4AIRminorAviation Partners joined 4AIR Sustainability Solutions Program for carbon footprint assessment, supporting environmental sustainability initiatives.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Aviation Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FACC AG: Austrian Tier-1 aerospace composites manufacturer that designs and produces winglets and wingtip devices (notably for Airbus Sharklets and A350). Closely comparable to Aviation Partners as a specialist winglet/aerodynamic component supplier serving major OEMs.
Broad incumbents
- GKN Aerospace: Major Tier-1 aerospace structures supplier (now part of Melrose Industries) producing wing components, empennages, and aerodynamic assemblies. Overlaps with API as an aerospace component designer/manufacturer serving OEMs globally.
- Spirit AeroSystems: World's largest independent aerostructures manufacturer, supplying wings, fuselages, and propulsion systems to Boeing and Airbus. Compares to API as an aerospace component manufacturer with deep OEM relationships, though at vastly greater scale and product breadth.
- Triumph Group: U.S. aerospace components manufacturer producing aerodynamic structures, wing components, and MRO services. Comparable business model to API as a tier-2/3 supplier with diversified product portfolio serving commercial and business aviation.
- Ducommun Incorporated: U.S. aerospace structural components manufacturer producing aerodynamic assemblies, control surfaces, and wing-related components. Comparable to API as a niche aerospace structures supplier with FAA-certified manufacturing capabilities.
- Boeing: Major commercial aircraft OEM and Aviation Partners Boeing joint venture partner. Comparable because Boeing designs and integrates its own winglets (737 MAX, 777X), competing in the wingtip technology space where API plays.
- Airbus: Major commercial aircraft OEM that develops in-house wingtip devices (Sharklets, A350 winglets) through suppliers like FACC. Comparable to API as an OEM that competes in advanced wingtip aerodynamic technology.
Others
- Dassault Aviation: Business jet OEM (Falcon family) that has made Aviation Partners winglets standard equipment on multiple Falcon models. Comparable as a key customer/OEM partner rather than direct competitor, with overlapping end-market focus in business aviation.
- StandardAero: Major business aviation MRO provider and Aviation Partners authorized installation partner. Comparable as a service/installation network partner supporting API's retrofit delivery model.
- Duncan Aviation: Large U.S. business aviation MRO and authorized Aviation Partners installation partner for Hawker and Falcon winglets. Comparable as a channel partner executing API's retrofit installations across the U.S.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aviation Partners social profiles
Digital presenceAviation Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aviation Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Aviation Partners subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Aviation Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aviation Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aviation Partners
What does Aviation Partners do?
Aviation Partners designs, produces, and markets patented Blended Winglet systems that reduce wingtip vortices and aerodynamic drag on aircraft, delivering 5-7% fuel savings, increased range, and higher cruise performance. Winglet kits are sold for both new-production installation and retrofit onto existing aircraft — including Dassault Falcon (2000, 900, 50 series), Hawker 800/800XP, Boeing Business Jets, and Boeing 737/757/767 commercial aircraft via a joint venture. Installation is performed through a global network of authorized MRO partners.
Is Aviation Partners a public or private company?
Aviation Partners is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Aviation Partners founded?
Aviation Partners was founded in 1991. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Aviation Partners based?
Aviation Partners is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aviation Partners make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Winglet Kit Sales (One-time License) is the primary driver. The others are installation Services.
Who are Aviation Partners's main competitors?
FACC AG is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are GKN Aerospace, Spirit AeroSystems, Triumph Group, Ducommun Incorporated, Boeing and Airbus. Others are Dassault Aviation, StandardAero and Duncan Aviation.
Does Aviation Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aviation Partners.
What industry is Aviation Partners in?
Aviation Partners's product category is Aircraft Aerodynamic Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAKAJAI, Modification, Retrofit & Engineering (STC, Avionics Upgrades, Conversions), with a secondary code of IMABAAAI, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Conversion & Modification (STC/Completions). Its NAICS code is 336413 and its SIC code is 3720.