Winglet specialist Tamarack Aerospace is looking move into commercial and military transport aircraft, bringing a new active winglet technology demonstrator to NBAA that incorporates a number of patents designed to improve performance of the bigger aircraft. Tamarack has carved a niche with its Atlas Active Winglets on a range of Cessna Citations from the M2 up through the newly announced 560XL series.
But the Commercial Active Winglet demonstrator, on display at the Tamarack booth (N936) takes a step toward the company’s goal of providing its Active Winglets technology on a range of aircraft, from light to large business jets, along with the commercial and military aircraft.
“This is a natural progression for Tamarack” said Nick Guida, founder and CEO of Tamarack Aerospace. “We have been working on new technology for several years but have waited for the patents to mature.”
The technologies build on the success of Atlas for CitationJets, he added, saying they “will bring the same benefits, and more, to air transport.”
The patents bring three new features that facilitate active control of wing loading and resulting improved efficiency. These include the ability for the winglet to adjust its toe angle inwards and outwards based on flight conditions.
A second feature enables the Tamarack Active Camber Surface (Tacs) to not only turn off the winglet when loads are detect, but “droop” to control wing loading or twist for peak efficiency.
The two features work together to optimize aerodynamics throughout the flight. “Basically, we can actively control wing loading, wing twist, and with the speed of our actuators, even aerodynamic flutter,” said Guida.
The third feature is a load alleviation device that is designed to prevent excess loads such as those experienced in a side gust event.
“Our Commercial Active Winglet can deliver fuel savings, direct climbs to higher initial altitudes, reduced load and fatigue on the wings, greater range and new potential city-pairs, all without the excess structural weight of passive winglets,” said Justin Ryan, president of Tamarack Aerospace. “Instead of a passive winglet that is optimized for only one specific flight condition, the Commercial Active
Winglet continuously adapts to provide operators with peak efficiency throughout the flight with a winglet that is 40 percent lighter.”
For large fleet operators, this brings a number of benefits, said Paul Hathaway, vice president of marketing. A 10-12 percent increase in fuel efficiency would bring major benefits – “that would be disruptive,” he said. Also, the wings do not have to work as hard with the technology, which brings the possibility of a longer life and improved maintainability.
The demonstrator on display essential is a design for the A320 wing, Hathaway added. But the technology could be adapted to a range of aircraft. Tamarack would need to secure a manufacturing or operator partner to move forward, he said.
But many manufacturers or other potential customers have expressed interest in its Active Winglet technologies and, Hathaway noted that the company has active discussions ongoing.
