Page 11 - Mar17ABS

How the Tamarack Winglets Work
Tamarack calls their product the ATLAS Active Winglet system, which has three components: a wing extension (five feet on the Citation 525), a “powered” or active load alleviation device and the optimized winglet. The load alleviation system — called Tamarack Active Camber Surface, or TACS — is a device extension that is installed on the outboard trailing edge or the wing. The system senses increases in G-forces, such as during turbulence or maneuvers, and automatically activate to dump the load. If you look closely during maneuvers, you can see them subtly move much like you see on any other control surface. This alleviates the structural stresses that you would normally find on a conventional or “passive” wing and winglet. However, due to their relative lightweight and simplicity, there is no weight penalty trade-off and they do not require any wing reinforcement.
The TACS is completely independent of the aircraft’s flight control systems and operates autonomously. The only time the pilot needs to interact with the system is during pre-flight with a push-to-test button. Should the system lose power, the pilot will get an annunciation on the panel and will be required to slow down to a defined airspeed, similar to when flying in turbulence. With wing loading no longer a concern, the winglet itself is a highly tuned and optimized for maximum aerodynamic efficiency.
For the Citation 525 equipped with ATLAS Active Winglet system, the aircraft experiences many dramatic performance improvements. The system allows the 525 to climb quicker and get to altitude faster, shortening second segment climbs and speeds. This translates to significant fuel savings of as much as 25 percent decrease in fuel burn. On a recent CJ3 test flight from Orlando to Sandpoint, Idaho, Guida reported the Tamarack testbed saw a 10 percent increase in range (more than 200 nm)
The system also provides a maximum zero fuel weight increase — 400 pounds in the CJ3 — as well as better hot and high performance.
The winglet system increases the span and dihedral of the wing, which enhances stability at altitude and eliminates the yaw damper inop limitation. Some other benefits are that the system also improves low-speed handling, lowers stall speeds and increases the fatigue life of the wing.
Former Cessna test pilot and instructor Kirby Ortega, who has test flown the Tamarack system, said he was impressed with how the system makes a good airframe even better.
“Previously, I was never a fan of winglets, because they were never designed to deliver anything but modest improvements,” he said. “When I flew the Tamarack, the fuel savings were obvious in the first 30 minutes of the flight. The climb impressive, allowing us to go directly to FL400 in less than 25 minutes.”
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