Tamarack, Ampaire to develop winglets for hybrid aircraft

In addition, the agreement also includes the installation of Tamarack’s Performance Smartwing winglets on Ampaire’s alternative propulsion variants of the Cessna 208 Caravan, the de Havilland Twin Otter, and multiple Beechcraft King Air models—which Ampaire calls Eco Caravans, Eco Otters, and Eco King Airs.

The original design that kicked off Ampaire’s hybrid-power initiatives consisted of a Cessna Skymaster, modified to use its conventional, aft-fuselage-mounted Continental IO-550 piston engine together with a nose-mounted electric motor. Ampaire called it the Electric EEL.

Tamarack says its winglets save fuel, alleviate aerodynamic wing loads, and improve the ability to take off and land on shorter runways regardless of high density altitudes.

“Tamarack’s technology is a great match with Ampaire’s hybrid propulsion system, as both work synergistically to upgrade the performance and economics of the proven aircraft operated by our customers,” said Ampaire CEO Kevin Noertker.

“Tamarack’s Performance SMARTWING technology has demonstrated substantial aerodynamic improvements on multiple platforms including 160 upgraded Citation jets, and our goal aligns closely with Ampaire’s to make every aircraft more efficient and sustainable,” said Tamarack CEO Nick Guida.

Tamarack winglets have been installed on a King Air 200 and 350, and more orders are expected. Future goals include certification of the company's winglets on Airbus A320s; entry into the regional jet segment; and contracts to modify military and defense aircraft flown for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.