Tamarack Aerospace Group

Tamarack Aerospace is aiming to transform the aviation industry.

It’s created what it calls SMARTWING technology, which is intended to increase the efficiency of aircraft and reduce harmful emissions.

Tamarack’s technology has been patented, and it's already been tested on more than 150 private aircraft. Furthermore, it’s been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

Now the company is seeking capital to scale its business and integrate its technology on every commercial and military flight.

Tamarack’s technology is presented as a new kind of aircraft wing extension, also known as a “winglet.” These are placed on the tips of airplane wings that make the wing appear as if it’s bent in shape.

Winglets enable planes to fly more efficiently with less drag, and they’re part of the $2+ billion wing technology market.

The trouble is, adding these winglets typically means making the wings, and thereby the planes, heavier. This compromises how much cargo or how many passengers can travel.

Increasing air efficiency is a primary goal for the aviation industry. By 2050, the International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation estimates that flights could be responsible for nearly a quarter of the world’s total carbon output. And the International Air Transport Association has a goal of reducing aviation CO2 emissions by 50% before that time.

The industry has tried to take steps to reduce emissions. Recent “green” aviation technologies include sustainable fuel alternatives, aircraft electrification, and improved engines. But these technologies deliver only incremental benefits. And most require planes to be rebuilt or redesigned from scratch.

In other words, these technologies simply aren’t practical.

In contrast, Tamarack’s technology offers a simple way to increase aircraft efficiency. And it doesn’t require planes to be rebuilt from the ground-up.

The company’s SMARTWING results in improved takeoff and landing performance, better mission readiness in hot or heavy conditions, faster and higher climbing capabilities while in the air, and a smoother ride for passengers.

Four factors separate Tamarack’s SMARTWING from other winglets on the market:

1. A significant wing extension enables aircraft to move faster and more efficiently.

2. A load alleviation device that enables the wings to distribute the weight of the aircraft’s cargo.

3. A winglet that’s made of ultra light-weight composite materials.

4. And an ATLAS Control Unit, which enables the winglet to automatically adjust to various flight conditions.

As mentioned, Tamarack’s winglets have already been installed in more than 150 private jets worldwide. The price to install the winglets ranges from $230,000 to $300,000.

Team Background

Danny Hiner - Chief Operating Officer

Danny has three decades in the aviation industry overseeing production and operations.

He spent 18 years with Aviat Aircraft, an aircraft manufacturer, serving as its Vice President of Production.

He then joined Quest Aircraft Company, another aircraft manufacturer, as a production manager. He started with Tamarack in March 2012.

During his career, Danny brought two aircraft designs from concept to market. He also managed the engineering and production of an aircraft called the Kodiak 100.

Nick Guida - Founder & CEO

Nick is an aerospace engineer with more than 30 years of experience. His focus is on developing sustainable aerospace products.

Throughout his career, he’s worked for several aerospace manufacturers, including Boeing, Pilatus, Aviat, and Quest Aircraft. In 2004, he founded his own aerospace-focused consulting company, working on projects with Raytheon and Hawker Beach.

In addition to his experience in the manufacturing industry, Nick is an accomplished pilot. For years, he held a Designated Engineering Representative appointment from the Federal Aviation Administration, giving him authorization to create and review engineering standards for aircraft.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering form Georgia Tech.

Jacob Klinginsmith - President & Director

Jacob has worked in the aviation sector for 15 years as an engineer and leader in product development.

He began his career as a certification engineer with Quest Aircraft, focusing on testing wings and cargo containment systems for aircraft.

He then joined Tamarack in 2010, where he began developing ATLAS, the company’s load alleviation system.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Idaho.

Justin Ryan - Director

Justin began his aviation career in the military, serving as a Naval Aviator in the U.S. Navy for eight years.

After moving to the private sector, he became an engagement manager, and later an associate principal, with McKinsey & Company, a management consulting firm. After that, he joined Honeywell Aerospace, a division of the electrical manufacturing company, as its Director of Strategy and Business Development. He later became Vice President of Strategic Planning & Marketing.

More recently, Justin was President of BendixKing, a company focused on avionics, the application of electronics in aircraft. He then became CEO of Streamline Avionics, a similar company.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania.

Co-Investors