Winglet Wonders
Increase Performance
Tamarack Aerospace , a Sandpoint company , produces and installs winglets internationally with a dramatic increase in jet performance
By Jennifer Ferrero , APR
Tamarack trees are easy to spot on northwestern mountains in the fall due to the yellowing of the needles that then fall off . You could say that they have a unique advantage from the pine trees in the forest , because they are the only coniferous and deciduous trees ( with cones and needle shedding ) on our forested mountains . Their appearance stands out .
Tamarack Aerospace Group , Inc . ( Tamarack ) has a similar advantage . They stand out because they are the only company that makes an Active Winglet with an automated load alleviation surface that dramatically increases the performance of the plane without having to add complex structural reinforcement .
The simplest way to add performance to a wing design is to add span ( wing length ) and then add winglets , i . e . make the wing longer . A longer wing with winglets will have a shorter time to climb and a greater range for a given amount of fuel . Gliders are a great example of this : they can fly great distances for a minimal loss of altitude . The problem is that when the
20 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS