Two-Blade Blended Props Offered In Composite, Or Aluminum

Hartzell Propeller Inc. announced this week it has received a Supplemental Type Certificate permitting installation of two new propellers on Diamond DA40 aircraft. In addition to the new propellers, the STC also permits the use of Hartzell’s new low-cost/high-performance S-1 series propeller governor.

The new 76-inch diameter, 46.8 lbs., two-bladed composite propeller features Hartzell's new ASC-II composite technology. ASC-II technology consists of a blended airfoil design made from advanced carbon and Kevlar composite materials through a proprietary, Hartzell-developed manufacturing process.

Hartzell's result is an advanced structural composite propeller that delivers all the advantages of the company's first generation of composite propellers -- low weight, low inertia, and low life cycle costs -- while minimizing the major disadvantage: the high-cost manufacturing process.

For the DA40, the new ASC-II composite propeller matches the weight and performance of the original equipment 3-blade propeller while providing the all-weather durability and reliability of a true carbon-fiber/Kevlar composite propeller system, which has been demonstrated and proven through millions of hours of airline service.

The new Hartzell ASC-II composite propeller has also been tested and proven to be compatible with the Powerflow exhaust system. Diamond Aircraft is making the Hartzell ASC-II available as an option on their new DA40 XLS.

Hartzell also unveiled a new 74-inch diameter, 62.8 pound, two-bladed aluminum propeller, that also features Hartzell's advanced blended airfoil design. When compared to Hartzell's previously approved aluminum propeller for the DA40, the new design has been structurally enhanced to be compatible with the extra horsepower created by the available Powerflow exhaust system.

When compared to the original equipment three-bladed propeller, the result is a two-knot improvement in cruise performance and comparable climb performance. The Hartzell 2-bladed aluminum propeller will be standard equipment on the new Diamond DA40 CS aircraft.

Both new propellers are available as Hartzell Top Prop conversion kits for retrofit on any Diamond DA40, including DA40s equipped with the Powerflow exhaust. These propeller kits are also available from Powerflow Systems for DA-40 owners that want to install this exhaust system on their aircraft. Furthermore, these are the only propellers approved for use at 2700 rpm maximum continuous power with the Powerflow exhaust that do not require the XL lower cowl.

Both propeller kits come complete with the propeller, a highly-polished spinner, STC paperwork and the Hartzell Plus Three warranty, which delivers a full three years or 1000 hours of coverage. The aluminum propeller kit is the lowest priced propeller available for the DA40 at a list price of $7,495. The lightweight ASC-II composite propeller kit lists for $11,295. Both propellers offer the durability, reliability, and worldwide support network that comes with a Hartzell propeller.

FMI: www.hartzellprop.com, www.diamondaircraft.com