Having successfully developed a market for its active-winglet technology for Cessna Citation business jets, Tamarack Aerospace is pursuing modification opportunities for other aircraft types, including Beech King Air 200 and 350 turboprops and single-aisle airliners. This week at MEBAA 2022, Tamarack founder and CEO Nick Guida is meeting with airliner manufacturing organizations, air carriers, lessors, and maintenance companies to highlight the benefits of its SmartWing active winglets.
Tamarack’s active winglets improve efficiency over traditional winglets by alleviating loads encountered during maneuvering and loads caused by gusts. In the CitationJet series, the SmartWing devices have demonstrated fuel savings of as much as 30 percent with consequent range improvements. In the A320 family (A318, A319, A320, A321), Tamarack projects a fuel burn reduction of 10 to 15 percent, which is two to three times more than the improved efficiency of traditional winglets.
With the increased aspect ratio provided by the winglets, the modified airplane can climb to more efficient altitudes much faster, thus being able to burn less fuel earlier in the flight profile. The active winglets also improve takeoff and landing performance, especially in hot-and-high conditions, and moderate the effects of turbulence in cruise flight.
The improved efficiency makes the Tamarack winglets a useful tool in meeting sustainability targets, according to Guida.
The A320 winglet program “is really jelling,” he said. “This market is huge,” referring to the 7,400 in-service A320s.