Originally published at: Hartzell Gets FAA Nod for First Electric Aircraft Propeller - AVweb
Five-blade, carbon fiber prop is designed for electric and AAM aircraft.
Congratulations to Hartzell for the approval of their new product by the authorities! It is known electric and advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft rely heavily on propeller propulsion. Therefore importance of the achievement is most evident.
It is known too that presently, the main problem in the AAM industry is to design propellers which can fulfill the requirements of the tiltrotor aircraft. Crashes and loss of life testify that rotors and propellers capable to perform well in regimes of both helicopter and cruising flight, are missing today.
Although concept of the suitable adaptive devices has existed for some years now, it is beyond question that the final solution must come from propeller experts. Experts like Hartzell.
I would like to know what are the design considerations that make electric aircraft propellers different. This article was kind of a tease. Five-bladed carbon-fiber? Adjustable pitch? Constant Speed? Do tell!
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