Aviation Partners (API) and Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) reported that its unique Blended Winglet and Split Scimitar Winglet technologies have now saved the world’s commercial and business jet operators an estimated 7 billion gallons of jet fuel, resulting in a corresponding global reduction of 74 million tons of CO2 emissions.

Blended Winglets are additions to the airplane wing that are significantly more efficient than standard wing tips. These winglets reduce the drag caused by wingtip vortices, the twin tornados formed by the difference between the pressure on the upper surface of an airplane’s wing and that on the lower surface.

By reducing drag, Blended Winglets increase fuel efficiency and boost range.

The Blended Winglets, which feature a large radius and smooth chord variation in the wing-to-winglet transition area, have demonstrated more than 60% greater effectiveness over conventional winglets with an angular transition.

Aviation Partners’ latest winglet design, the Split Scimitar Winglet, uses existing Blended Winglet technology, but adds new aerodynamic Scimitar tips and a large ventral strake, further increasing the efficiency of the airplane.

Blended Winglets have now been installed on over 8,000 aircraft and Split Scimitar Winglets are now installed on nearly 900 aircraft.