OSHKOSH — At AirVenture today, MT-Propeller introduced its new 5400-Series of 2-blade ground adjustable aluminum propellers for vintage aircraft. The new propellers are reconstructions of ground adjustable propellers made by the famous Standard Steel Propeller Co. (later Hamilton Standard) manufactured from 1925 through 1945. This type of propeller, used primarily on vintage aircraft, has been out of production for decades, making the propellers scarce, company officials said.
Gerd Muehlbauer, president of MT-Propeller said, “While MT-Propeller is known for what may be considered more ‘modern’ propeller designs, we recognized the important role we could play in keeping vintage aircraft flying and safe. We are pleased to offer these new ground adjustable blades and completely new hubs.”
The newly produced and certificated propellers are typically used on radial engines of up to 450 hp at 2,300 rpm and in diameters of between 7 and 10 feet. There are three different blade model designations — 1C1, A1C1 and A11C1 — each available in different lengths. The blades mate with one of two newly manufactured steel propeller hubs: models 5404 and 5406 (SAE 20 & SAE 30 spline).
The project to bring these propellers back into production was started nearly 10 years ago by Greg Herrick, president of the Aviation Foundation of America, Inc. “We recognized the importance of finding someone to put these propellers back into production as the supply of used blades, some over 80 years old, began to dwindle,” Herrick said. “We are grateful to MT-Propeller for making this possible. Having newly manufactured blades available is an important part of keeping the world’s fleet of vintage aircraft in the air and flying safely.”
The new hubs and blades are useful on a wide variety of radial engine powered aircraft including many famous names such as Boeing, Ford, Stearman, Travel Air and WACO. The new hubs and blades carry FAA Type Certificate Number P32BO.
MT-Propeller Entwicklung GmbH, founded in 1981, manufactures natural composite propellers for single and twin engine aircraft, airships, wind tunnels and other special applications. Currently MT-Propeller Entwicklung GmbH holds over 100 STCs around the world and, because of its continuous new developments, MT-Propeller has become the original manufacturer for many new aircraft types and aircraft engines, company officials said.
For more information: MT-Propeller.com
