When asked what initially inspired him to add Active Winglets to his CJ, Larry didn’t hesitate: “Flying to high-altitude airports like Eagle and Telluride with more payload.” For him, this wasn’t just about a smoother flight—it was about making family travel easier, more flexible, and safer. The high/hot performance improvements, especially in locations known for their demanding runways and challenging conditions, were the main driver. But beyond the technical advantages, Larry also recalls the first time he saw his transformed CJ. “The payload was my main focus…but they do look cool!” he laughs. And while needing a larger hangar was a consideration, Tamarack made sure everything—from the installation to the paint—was seamless. “They did a fantastic job blending the paint. You wouldn’t even know the winglets were an addition.”
Many pilots might expect a learning curve when flying a winglet-equipped jet, but Larry insists that wasn’t the case. “It doesn’t feel much different,” he admits. “But you notice the performance improvement right away.” One of the most intriguing aspects? “The angle of attack indexer shows a slower speed, often below calculated Vref,” he notes—a subtle but important detail that has reshaped his approach to flying.
Larry's wife, who has also spent some time in the left seat, appreciates the reduced turbulence they encounter thanks to Active Winglets. “We can get to 41,000 feet easily, especially in the winter. And because we’re so high up, turbulence is rarely an issue,” he explains. “You can even see the winglets working hard in turbulent conditions just by looking out the window.” Their longest flight so far has been from Fresno to Minnesota—a journey of 1,285 nautical miles made even smoother with Tamarack’s technology.
“You can even see the winglets working hard in turbulent conditions just by looking out the window.”
Nearly five years since the installation, one benefit continues to stand out: the high/hot performance. For Larry, the ability to access airports like Telluride, which, depending on factors like payload and temperature constraints, may have been out of reach, has been invaluable. “In some cases, it wouldn’t have been possible without the winglets,” he says, underscoring just how transformative they’ve been for his flying. Larry is an advocate for Active Winglets and has already recommended them to other CitationJet owners. “Depending on how you plan to fly your aircraft, you’ll pick up a few hundred pounds of payload or be able to fly about 40 minutes further,” he says, referencing the kind of benefits that easily spark interest among fellow pilots. His conversations have already led to at least two conversions—a testament to the compelling advantages of Tamarack’s technology.
As the 100th customer, Larry felt a special connection to Tamarack’s growth. “It was exciting! We definitely thought it was fun to be part of that milestone, and we still have the sticker on the plane that marks the 100th install,” he recalls. With Tamarack now approaching its 200th installation, we asked Larry what advice he’d offer to the next customer: “Feel confident in them. Always do your preflight checks, including your BIT tests.” Larry took Tamarack’s guidance a step further by creating his own preflight checklist that incorporates additional components, a habit that speaks to his attention to detail as a former colonel in the U.S. Air Force and Vice Chief of Staff of the California Army and Air National Joint Staff.
When asked about the future of aviation technology, Larry's optimism is clear. “A decade or two ago, Active Winglets wouldn’t have been possible because the CPU and processing technology didn’t really exist. But those advancements will continue to improve aviation in ways we’re just starting to see.” For Larry, Tamarack’s innovations are a sign of exciting things to come in aviation technology—where efficiency and performance will only get better.
To wrap up our conversation, Larry was quick to praise Tamarack as more than just a company providing great technology. “Tamarack has been a great company to work with. Their support has been excellent, and they’re truly a solid part of the aviation community.”
As Tamarack Aerospace nears this major milestone, Larry McKoane’s experience is a testament to the real-world benefits of Active Winglets—from smoother rides and shorter runways to expanded travel possibilities. And with the future of aviation technology evolving, pilots like Larry are excited to see where Tamarack’s innovations will take them next!
About Tamarack Aerospace
Tamarack Aerospace Group is an aircraft performance and sustainability technology company revolutionizing business, defense, and commercial aircraft with its unique and patented SMARTWINGTM technology. The technology provides substantial aircraft range increase and fuel savings, along with payload increase, outstanding climb performance, ride smoothing, increased structural life, and increased safety and stability. Tamarack’s flight efficiency technologies provide truly transformative performance improvements for new aircraft designs or aftermarket retrofit and are the best fuel savings retrofit currently available. Since structural reinforcement is not required, these modifications are lightweight and offer reduced time for installation
Learn more at www.tamarackaero.com and follow Tamarack Aerospace Group on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
