Hartzell offers new props for King Air 350

Hartzell will offer its four-blade aluminum and five-blade composite propellers with a swept design for the King Air 350 in 2016 once testing, now in progress, is completed. The curvy propellers are designed to increase cruise speed.

They also are said to decrease cabin noise. Hartzell already offers similar swept-blade propellers for the King Air C90 and B200 series King Airs. Testing began in October 2015.

A supplemental type certificate from the FAA is expected once testing is complete in early 2016, the company said. Once approved for use by the FAA, customers will choose either the four-blade aluminum or five-blade carbon-fiber design.

“We have greatly advanced the technology of propellers by taking advantage of the aerodynamic effect of blade sweep, the strength of lightweight structural composites and robotic manufacturing technologies for both composite and aluminum blades,” said Joe Brown, president of Hartzell Propeller. “As a result, we can offer across the board performance improvements in all phases of flight.”