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PIQUA, Ohio — October 22, 1999 — Hartzell Propeller Inc., today announced the development of a four-blade blade composite propeller for the JetPROP DLX, a Pratt & Whitney PT6 turbine conversion of the Piper Malibu/Mirage. The propeller has passed the required testing and is undergoing the certification process, with the goal to have JetPROP’s STC amended by the end of the year.
“The propeller is quieter and smoother than any other propeller we have tried on the PT6 to date,” said Darwin Conrad, President and CEO of JetPROP LLC.
The high performance blades of these propellers are constructed of Kevlar®, which offers the benefits of lower weight and longer life over conventional metal blades.
In addition to improving high altitude cruise performance and reducing the amount of erosion from ground operations, there are additional benefits to the four-bladed Hartzell composite scimitar blade system.
Lighter Weight – This propeller weighs 23 pounds less than the Hartzell four-blade metal prop currently used on the JetPROP DLX. In fact, the reduced weight of the composite propeller gives the airplane 23 pounds more useful load while moving the center of gravity aft.
Enhanced Durability and Reliability – the composite construction of the blades allows repairs to be made by adding material (rather than removing material as required with metal blades) as the prop develops nicks and gouges during normal operation. This coupled with the inherent strength of composites has enabled some airlines to put more than 30,000 hours on their Hartzell composite blades.
Unlimited Certification Life – These and all other Hartzell Kevlar â composite blades enjoy an unlimited service life designation from the FAA.
Hartzell Propeller Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of propeller systems, well known for its advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities. The company is rich in aviation heritage tracing its beginnings to relationships with Orville Wright and Glenn Curtiss. Significant technical innovations include the industry’s first full-feathering propeller for light twins, the first fully reversing propellers for corporate turboprops and the industry’s first composite structure blades. NASA recently selected Hartzell as the exclusive propeller partner for its General Aviation Propulsion (GAP) program – developing the next generation of general aviation propulsion systems.
