A Cessna Citation CJ3 with Tamarack Aerospace Group’s active winglets recently completed a trip with only one stop in between Paris, Texas, and Paris, France. The aircraft is currently going through flight testing so the active winglets can receive FAA and EASA STC by the fourth quarter. The winglets and currently certified on the CJ, CJ1, CJ+ and M2.

The CJ3 flew 2,104 nm from Texas to St. Johns, Newfoundland, while carrying pilot and shareholder Gary Heavin and Tamarack CEO Nick Guida and loaded to mtow. The flight lasted 5 hours and 32 minutes and had a four-knot tailwind and flew at 376 knots true airspeed. The first leg had a fuel burn of 3,960 pounds. The second leg to Paris Le Bourget took 5 hours and 45 minutes and covered 2,244 nm. The CJ3 flew at 373 knots true airspeed with a 17-knot tailwind, with a total fuel burn of 4,210 pounds.

“Climbing out of St. John, I was particularly pleased with the climb performance enabled by the Tamarack active winglets,” said Guida. “As anyone who has flown the North Atlantic knows, the atmosphere conditions are often very warm [ISA plus], making many aircraft struggle to climb to the desired cruising altitude. Step climbs are typically required and can be a challenge to coordinate. We encountered up to ISA+12 on the climb yet were at altitude in 25 minutes. When Gander Control asked if we could make Flight Level 450 before the entry point of our high-altitude track, it was great to answer, ‘Yes.’ Active winglets make the CJ3 stand out in the market and demonstrate the ability of our active winglets to transport the performance of almost any aircraft type in a cost-effective, straightforward retrofit. This CJ3 transatlantic flight builds upon our previous record-breaking flight of our active-winglet-equipped CJ, [flying]a distance of 1,853 nm.”  

Tamarack’s active winglet system enhanced the CJ3’s performance. The system is made of wing extensions with a highly tuned winglet and a load-alleviation device. This device reduces loads during maneuvering and gusts, thereby lessening the need for wing reinforcement. According to Tamarack’s flight testing, fuel burn at Mmo and at FL450 is trimmed from 800 pounds per hour to 700 because of the active winglets.

“I’ve flown my CJ3 from Texas to Europe many times, but have always needed to stop two or three times to refuel,” Heavin said. “The performance of the aircraft was fantastic throughout the trip. With a full load, the aircraft climbed directly to FL450 in 25 minutes, accelerated to cruise Mach in less than five minutes and cruise fuel burn was about 100 pounds per hour lower. The ride in turbulence was noticeably smoother, too.”