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Pilatus PC-12 5-blade propeller
Piqua, Ohio, Feb 1, 2016 – Hartzell Propeller has strengthened its global leadership in turboprop propellers through a multiyear, multimillion-dollar investment in advanced aerodynamics and manufacturing techniques, featuring structural composite technology.
The result has been the roll-out of several new five blade structural composite propellers and an aggressive campaign to identify fleets of turboprops for five-blade propeller upgrades that enhance performance across the board.
All Hartzell structural composite blades are certified for unlimited life. This means that they can be overhauled at their normal TBO and continually returned to service, with no limit to the total number of flight hours accumulated.
Piper Meridian 5-blade propeller
Focus on Current Production Turboprop Fleets
During the past two years, Hartzell has partnered with several of the industry’s most iconic OEM’s to introduce specially designed 5-blade carbon fiber swept props for new turboprop aircraft and as upgrades to the existing fleets. These structural composite offerings include:
Significant Business Aircraft Investments
“In the recent tough environment for business aircraft, Hartzell has made significant investments in industry leading advanced structural composite manufacturing techniques and sophisticated aerodynamics resulting in clear and definitive performance boosts,” said Hartzell Propeller President Joe Brown. “This confidence in the future of business aviation and our close relationships with aircraft manufacturers strengthens Hartzell global brand leadership.”
The company has invested heavily in its structural composite propeller center of excellence, developing high-performance five-blade propellers. Hartzell props feature modern aerospace conforming materials that include carbon fiber and epoxy resins and are produced on state of the art automated manufacturing equipment.
DAHER TBM 5-blade propeller
Key Materials, Advanced Aerodynamics
The material choices enable aerodynamic design innovations that feature thin, maximum efficiency airfoils giving Hartzell’s new turboprop propellers significantly increased performance and stunning ramp appeal. Hartzell’s five-blade composite propellers outperform other propellers because of the improved aerodynamics enabled by high-strength material.
Hartzell’s five-blade propellers provide lower in-flight vibration and produce greater thrust for better take-off and climb performance. Through optimized aerodynamic design, the low-end performance is coupled with improved cruise performance. The larger surface area and blockage effect of five-blade propellers provide quicker descents resulting in smoother touchdowns with less float.
For example, in the single-engine TBM 700/850, Hartzell’s modern five-blade swept-prop generated as much as 10 percent faster takeoff acceleration, two knots higher cruise speeds, and 100-foot per minute better climb rate, along with measurably less noise in the cabin and at the airport. After less than two years on the market, Hartzell’s new TBM propellers are already flying on more than 20% of the total TBM fleet.
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.
