From: "Marvin Kaye" <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: ACI props
To: LML
Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 08:48:58 -0400
Message-ID: <web-1624886@logan.com>
In-Reply-To: <001001c22895$0082b780$9200a8c0@skip>
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Posted for "Skip Slater" <skipslater@earthlink.net>:
Re: Aero Composites props, how much and what's the TBO?  Also, how many are
out there other than Rick's?
    A similar outfit that I'm familiar with is Whirlwind Propellers and one of
their composite props that would go on a IV or ES costs about $11K and due
to newness, needs to be overhauled every few hundred hours until they get
more experience with them.  As a result, I bought a new certified Hartzell
for my IO-540 (same one used on Bruce Bohannon's Exxon Tiger) through Team
Rocket for $7K.  Yeah, it's heavier, but I'm told it has NASA designed
airfoils and the TBO's about the same as my engine.
    I'm all for new technology stuff, but I'd like to see a bit more time and
experience with the Aero Composite props before jumping into such an
expensive briar patch.
     Skip Slater
     IO-540 ES
     (Hope to fly by sometime next month)


[I forwarded your message to the folks at ACI... hopefully there will be a 
response later today.     Unless the blades require some kind of unusual
inspection, I suspect the TBO will be the same as any McCauley prop, as they
use a McCauley hub.  Given the robust attachment design of the ACI blades I
would be surprised to hear that they require an extraordinary inspection 
schedule.  BTW, Doug Pohl has one on his 400+ hp Engineair-powered IVP as does 
Bob Wolstenholme on his "Mistress", and we're putting one on Ted Noel's Eagle
540-powered IVP.  FWIW.

    <Marv>     ]