Message-ID: <003601c1d794$ab39ad20$12416542@direct>
From: "Ted Stanley" <ted@vineyard.net>
To: "LML Posting" <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Subject: Propeller Choices
Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2002 21:42:37 -0500
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I saw something this morning that I had heard about a few months back but
honestly thought it was just another one of those aviation techno wonders
that would never really get off the ground. I'm talking about the Aero
Composites propeller. You can check it out at:

http://www.aerocomposites.com

I was at New England Propeller in Connecticut dropping off a couple of props
and governors for overhaul. I was talking with Artie D'Onofrio (the owner)
and asked him if he could supply me with a new Hartzell for my IV when the
time came. He stopped right there and motioned me over to a prop stand.
There it was, carbon blades with what as I recall Artie said were titanium
leading edges in a McCauley hub. Unbelievable and gorgeous. He had several
there in the build up process. He handed me one of the blades, light as a
feather but oh so strong. The blade is really something, thin and with a
shape that were it aluminum probably wouldn't last but a few minutes. Artie
said that in his 26 years in the propeller business he'd never seen anything
like it. It's solid carbon laminate, no core.

The thrust produced is remarkable, resulting in spectacularly shortened
takeoff rolls and fantastic climb rates. Lancair flew their Legacy with a
two bladed Hartzell, an MT, and the new Aero Composites prop. I don't have
any real numbers but I was told that the initial climb rate improved about
1000 fpm to yield 3500 fpm on takeoff from Redmond with one pilot and half
fuel. The downside is that at higher altitudes the top end speed is several
knots slower than with the two bladed Hartzell, but I think I'd happily
forgo that for such dramatic improvements in takeoff roll and climb rate.
Aero Composites will have a booth at Sun 'n Fun in building "C". Check it
out.

You can bet this thing will be on my wish list. WAY COOL.

Ted Stanley - IV in progress


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