Press Releases

PIQUA, Ohio — May 19, 1995 — Hartzell announced today that it will be offering a new three-bladed propeller system under its Top Prop™ Performance Propeller Conversion program. The new system for the popular Cessna 180 and 182 Centurion aircraft will be the company’s largest STC to date, offering more than 20,000 pilots the opportunity to improve performance and reduce maintenance costs.

In conjunction with the announcement, Hartzell will be giving away one of the first systems out of the factory at EAA Oshkosh later this summer. Operators of 180/182 aircraft can register for the drawing at Hartzell’s Oshkosh exhibit, booth number 1042, New North Aviation Exhibit Hangar.

The new 180/182 system incorporates Hartzell’s scimitar blade design and features swept leading edges that provide a distinctive look to the prop. The company’s experience with swept blade design goes back nearly 15 years to its work on Bill Lear’s Learfan. This propeller featured radically swept Hartzell composite blades driven by two turbine engines. The scimitar propeller system for the Centurion has aluminum blades and hub and is a member of Hartzell’s growing range of next generation lightweight, compact propellers.

Only 76 inches in diameter, the new prop offers a ground clearance improvement over both original equipment two (81 inches) and three-bladed systems (78 inches). The new prop also features improved twist distribution. By designing greater twist at the root of the blade, less can be demanded from the tip … where most propeller noise is generated. This aerodynamic “unloading” of the tip, coupled with a shorter diameter … and requisite lower tip speeds … significantly reduces internal cabin and flyover noise levels.

Better twist distribution also contributes to cruise performance for the new prop which is improved over original three-bladed installations and comparable to original two-bladed installations. And when upgrading from a two-bladed prop, take-off and climb performance will be noticeably improved as well.

Less tip erosion, longer TBOs, and a strong warranty should significantly reduce maintenance costs for 180/182 operators. Shorter diameter blades will reduce erosion and the frequency of prop strikes while the 2,000 hour TBO of the new system compares favorably to original equipment which ranged from 1,200 to 1,600 hours.

Price for the kit is $6,995 plus shipping and includes the three-bladed prop, a polished spinner and appropriate STC paperwork.

Hartzell Propeller Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of propeller systems enjoying 60 percent market share on turboprop airliners and 85 percent market share on corporate turboprops. The 78-year-old company is also well known for its design leadership having introduced 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.