Paired With New Props Designed  By Hartzell Propeller

The FAA has issued an STC to Vitatoe Aviation in Chillicothe, OH to equip the Cessna P210 and T210 with a turbonormalized IO-550P. Tubonormalization utilizes mechanically compressed air to prevent engine power drop-off as the aircraft gains altitude. It is similar to turbocharging, but limits the the compressed air to pressures at or near sea level.

Turbonormalized engines perform as if they were at sea level, where engines deliver the most power. The ability to climb strongly at any altitude enables pilots to operate more easily in areas where changing altitude is critical (such as mountainous areas), find more comfortable cruise altitudes during flight and climb to avoid inclement weather.

Vitatoe’s system takes advantage of the P210’s existing turbocharger and converts it to turbonormalize the engine. However, the P210’s existing McCauley propeller was not able to meet vibration requirements with the new system. Larry Vitatoe, President of Vitatoe Aviation, asked Hartzell to design new propellers to accompany the turbonormalizated setup. Hartzell engineered two aluminum scimitar props to help Vitatoe’s team realize their vision of a turbonormalized P210.

The aluminum airplane propellers designed by the Hartzell engineering team reduced takeoff noise by 2.5 decibels, but that is just a fraction of the performance increases generated by Vitatoe’s new setup, according to the company.

(Image provided by Hartzell Propeller)

FMI: www.hartzellprop.com