Tamarack Aerospace Group is currently working on four Cessna Citation jets at once, installing its patented Performance Smartwing Active Winglet load-alleviating technology.
The installations are taking place at Tamarack’s headquarters in Sandpoint, Idaho; Air1st Aviation Companies in Aiken, South Carolina; Prince Aviation in Belgrade, Serbia; and Banyan Aviation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Taramack said that its Smartwing technology offers sustainability and cost-saving benefits, and that installation on Citation jet models can realise up to 33% fuel use reduction and range increase under optimum conditions, plus other safety advantages.
“We can install our Smartwing technology on a Citation jet in less than a week, and that efficiency is helping a lot with increased new customer and repeat customer demand,” said Eric Cunningham, Tamarack’s sales director.
Tamarack’s chief operations officer, Danny Hiner, sees a marked increase in installations internationally, the latest being in Serbia and Germany. Tamarack has grown to include four transformation centres for installations and 20 service centres.
“Tamarack installations are very efficient,” said Hiner. “We are able to work with multiple organisations in multiple cities/countries/continents and form great relationships over the years. We carefully vet each of the organisations we have partnered with, getting to know each of our counterparts in their respective positions and then sharing, educating and face-to-face training on everything we have learned. Building these relationships allows our partners to trust that they can pick up the phone, schedule a Teams call, share photos or messages via text or email no matter what time of day or time zone we are each in, and get any help they need almost immediately. These people are more than just organisational business associates; they are trusted partners and friends who believe in Tamarack and treat our customers like we do. Our customers benefit, and many keep coming back for installations on their next aircraft.”
Friedrich Karl of Karl Aviation, based in Munich, Germany, has Tamarack Smartwing upgrades installed on three Citation jets in his Part 91 fleet and is actively in the market for more aircraft to buy and upgrade. He operates a CJ, CJ1 and CJ3. He mostly flies in Europe and internationally but also in the USA.
Besides other Smartwing benefits, Karl is really excited about the safety results. “We fly trips to Italy, and the ability to get higher quicker with the Tamarack upgrade going over the Alps and handling shorter runways are very big safety [advantages],” he said. “The structure stress reduction and smoother ride are so important too.”
Tamarack said that in addition to fuel savings and range increase, an aircraft with its upgrades can climb higher faster; experience smoother flight; make slower and more stable landing approaches even on shorter runways; have more fuel reserves at landing to allow pilot’s added safety-focused choices; and reduce stress on the aircraft through load alleviating and increased aspect ratio technology.
