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>     ]