Borge Boeskov, president of Boeing Business Jets, said Tuesday the BBJ will be fitted with Aviation Partners Inc. (API) winglets that will boost specific range performance by 5.5% to 7.0%, thereby enabling Boeing to eliminate the tenth, and aft-most, underfloor supplemental fuel tank needed to achieve the aircraft's 6,200 mile, NBAA IFR profile, range with eight passengers on board.

The news comes shortly after Boeskov disclosed six more orders for the BBJ, bring the total number to 35. Boeskov also said that BBJs will be assembled at Boeing's Long Beach, California, facility using fuselages from Wichita, Kansas, and wings from Renton, Washington.

Green price is US$33.75 million in 1998 dollars.

Mike Hewitt, chief test pilot of Boeing 737 programs, completed the first flight of the BBJ last Friday-sans winglets for certification work. After type certification in late September or early October, the BBJ will be fitted with the API winglets in preparation for FAA supplemental type certification slated for mid-1999. The second post-certification task group includes installation and STC approval of the nine-tank, PATS, underfloor supplemental fuel system. Fuel tank installation is expected to take 70 days, according to Boeskov.

The winglets will add less than 500 pounds to the weight of the BBJ, but removal of the 400-pound tenth PATS tank with its 1,675 pound capacity, actually will boost available payload with maximum fuel, according to Joe Clark, president of API.

Hewitt told Show News that pushing Mmo to 0.84 Mach will be another post-certification task. The 8.5-foot high winglets are expected to have no impact on Mmo or Vmo. Hewitt explained that the range boost attributable to the winglets results from a 2,000-foot increase in initial cruising altitude, plus reduced drag during climb and cruise.

Boeskov claimed that his staff is selling two BBJs per month, which is in line with the 24-per-year production plan. Each year, Boeskov expects five of the 24 aircraft to be sold to Boeing Netjets, a fractional ownership program owned by Executive Jet International.

"Two years ago, people doubted that Boeing was serious about getting into business aircraft," Boeskov. "Now, we have a real airplane for those who are doubters." Boeskov said that the BBJ will make its first major public appearance at the 1998 NBAA Convention in Las Vegas in October. "It might even show up with winglets," he said.

By Fred George