Press Releases

Piqua, Ohio, March 7, 2016 – Hartzell Propeller has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for a five-blade composite propeller designed specifically for the Piper Aircraft Meridian and Piper’s new M500. Hartzell collaborated closely with Piper Aircraft on the STC for the single-engine pressurized turboprops.

“The Hartzell Propeller five-bladed prop design increases flight performance and value of Piper’s new M500 and approximately 500 Piper Meridians already flying around the world,” said Hartzell Propeller President Joe Brown. “Hartzell’s new Meridian composite prop boosts climb rate while decreasing noise and it offers a very stylish contemporary look on the ramp.”

Muncie Aviation Co. is among the first customers for the new Meridian five-blade propeller. “As a Piper dealer, we are thrilled to begin the Meridian aftermarket installations, building on the exceptional customer acceptance for other Hartzell five-blade propeller installations,” said Muncie Aviation President Martin Ingram. “These new swept airfoil props look great and they increase the asset value for this excellent business aircraft through increased performance.”

The durability of the new Hartzell prop integrates exceptionally well with the Piper Meridian and M500 for all around better performance. Optimal in design due to its carbon fiber strength, the Hartzell five-blade composite propeller is offered as a Piper factory option on new M500 aircraft.

The new Hartzell Propeller blades are certified for unlimited life and are five to 10 times stronger than wood core blades. They feature a stainless steel shank, nickel cobalt leading edge, and mesh erosion screen for FOD protection. Hartzell’s latest Piper five-blade design is 15 pounds lighter than the current factory installed aluminum four-blade propeller and 10 pounds lighter than similar wood core propellers.

About the Piper M500

The Piper M500 features the latest in Garmin G1000 avionics, enhanced safety features, and a number of other significant product improvements. The six-place M500 is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A 500shp engine and Hartzell prop, sports a 260 KTAS / 482 km/h max cruise speed and has a range of 1,000 nm / 1,852 km. Equipped with an improved Garmin G1000 avionics suite featuring the most advanced safety features available in any single engine turboprop aircraft.

About Piper Aircraft

Headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla., Piper Aircraft, Inc. offers aviators throughout the world efficient and reliable single- and twin-engine aircraft. The single-engine M-Class series – the M600, M500, M350, and Matrix – offers businesses and individuals elegant performance and value. The Twin Class Seneca V and Seminole balance proven performance, efficiency, and simplicity in twin-engine aircraft. The Trainer Class Archer TX/LX, Archer DX, Arrow, Seminole and Seneca V aircraft form the most complete technically-advanced line of pilot training aircraft in the world. All Piper airplanes feature advanced Garmin avionics in the cockpit. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

About Hartzell Propeller

Hartzell Propeller is the global leader in advanced technology aircraft propeller design and manufacturing for business, commercial and government customers. The company designs next generation propellers with innovative “blended airfoil” technology and manufactures them with revolutionary machining centers and robotics. With ASC-II™ composite technology, Hartzell delivers optimal performance, strength, and durability with carbon fiber blades.

Hartzell Propeller and its sister company, Hartzell Engine Technologies LLC, form the general aviation business unit of Tailwind Technologies Inc. The aerospace technology company also includes Hi-Tech Metal Finishing and Mayday Manufacturing. For more info on Hartzell Propeller go to hartzellprop.com.