Aviation Partners has booked the first five orders for its Hawker 800SP blended winglet upgrade, and is planning to deliver the first shipset early next year. The first aircraft is on show at this week's National Business Aviation Association show in Orlando, Florida, and is due to be taken on US demonstration tours in November and January. The kit, which costs $350,000 installed, produces a 7% drag reduction "with a corresponding range increase", says the company. The 1.06m (3.5ft)-tall winglets also give better time to climb performance, and an 18kt (33km/h) cruise-speed benefit over the standard aircraft, it adds. Aviation Partners is targeting the bulk of the 800 fleet (almost 300 aircraft) for the retrofit.
Source: Flight International
