Wed, Oct 31, 2012
Tamarack Aerospace Group Developing ATLAS System
Tamarack Aerospace Group’s CEO Nick Guida has announced the development of active winglets for Cessna CitationJet series aircraft. Tamarack’s Active Technology Load Alleviation System (ATLAS) allows for simplified winglet installation requiring no major structural or engineering effort. The patented active winglet design allows for load alleviation during gusts while retaining all the performance benefits passive wingtips provide.
Tamarack has been flight testing the system since originally outfitting an RV-6 with active winglets. Once the potential performance benefits of such a system were proven, a Cirrus was outfitted with the winglets to serve as a technology demonstrator and aid in FAA approval.
A problem with passive winglets is the redistribution of wing loads across the wing surface, which causes increased flexing in the wing and typically requires structural modification to prevent exceeding design limitations. Central to the ATLAS system is the Tamarack Active Control Surface (TACS), which moves like a flap to alleviate wing loads and reduce the aerodynamic signature of the winglets during flight in turbulent and gusty conditions, when load factors could be exceeded.
“This is new technology we like to refer to as winglet 2.0,” said Guida, whose plans for Tamarack include offering active winglets for other airframes in the future. FAA issuance of an STC for the CitationJet installation is expected in a year. Benefits of the CJ installation include increased range and efficiency while avoiding the drawbacks typically associated with sometimes complex passive winglet installations. “We’re going to make a CJ1 fly a lot like a CJ2,” promises Guida.
The ATLAS winglet system was designed to be an easy OEM modification, and Tamarack has been consulting with Cessna to aid development and acceptance of their active winglet design. The triple-redundant electronic stress monitoring system will monitor stress data and alert the pilot should wing stress levels be exceeded. A CitationJet equipped with the ATLAS system began flying last week, and Tamarack is currently accepting deposits for future orders.
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