Meet Jim Plettner, prior Active Winglet-transformed aircraft owner.
When Plettner recently sold his upgraded CitationJet 525, he was met with a simple, easy, and quick sale predominately thanks to the performance benefits of the Active Winglet modification. He originally purchased the aircraft 3 years ago with 3,200 flight hours and made the sale with 3,700 hours accrued for $140,000 more than the cost and investment in upgrades. In addition to the Active Winglet modification, the CitationJet also had upgraded Dual 750 avionics, an N1 computer, and a backup SAM attitude indicator, leaving the turnkey aircraft undeniably sellable and in ideal condition.
Plettner’s broker was extremely positive regarding the resale of an Active Winglet-transformed CitationJet and had an asking price offer within three days of the aircraft being on the market.
“I don’t think the Winglets depreciated at all in the three years I’ve had them,” shared Plettner. “In fact, I think they are a substantial part of what sold my plane.”
Although the new owners were not particularly searching for Active Winglets initially, they were considering a Phenom 100 or CitationJet. With the assistance of a knowledgeable source advising them on aircraft, they quickly realized the difference in performance between CitationJets with and without Active Winglets, notably the range benefits. For example, a flat wing Cessna CJ/CJ1aircraft that could fly three hours nonstop prior to installing Active Winglets can now fly four hours nonstop on the same fuel with Active Winglets – meaning less fuel stops, downtime, and money spent.
“The airplane is so stable at slower speeds ... I flew it by angle of attack indicator when I came to land, and was consistently around 8 knots under Vref, making it a much safer airplane in terms of landing speeds. It’s a complete non problem taking off and landing, even from mountain strips.”
In addition to the significant range increase when flying with Active Winglets, Plettner praised the technology’s ability to climb to FL410 quickly and produce a longer fuel burn, all while providing ideal comfort and safety. This means more stable, relaxing missions for all passengers on every flight, as Active Winglets deliver turbulence canceling of up to 25%. In addition, takeoff and landing safety is also increased, providing ultimate peace of mind.
“The airplane is so stable at slower speeds,” shares Plettner. “I flew it by angle of attack indicator when I came to land, and was consistently around 8 knots under Vref, making it a much safer airplane in terms of landing speeds. It’s a complete non problem taking off and landing, even from mountain strips.”
This kind of performance capability was much needed for Plettner, who used his aircraft primarily for bimonthly trips between Cincinnati, OH (KOUK) and Sarasota, FL (SRQ), as well as frequent trips to a mountain strip at 3,500 ft. in North Carolina (MSL). With the winglet equipped CitationJet, there was no problem landing and taking off from the 4,600 ft. runway in mountainous terrain.
As Plettner enters the market again for a new aircraft, he suggests that another CitationJet equipped with Active Winglets would be right for him. The ability to land at slower speeds, carry more weight, and use less fuel is any aircraft owner’s ideal flight.
Active Winglets brought incredible value and performance benefits for Plettner’s aircraft, accompanied by safety benefits to match. This kind of investment can be measured in multiple-on-returns, as the value of the aircraft increased when Active Winglets were installed. Not only do Active Winglets save fuel, provide comfort, and execute missions nonstop, but they also provide a way for aircraft owners to work a profit when it comes time to sell.
Learn more about the value of Active Winglets here: https://www.tamarackaero.com/news/enhancing-vref-value-with-active-winglets
