US engineering and modification company Texas Turbine Conversions (TTC) has secured European supplemental type certification for the Hartzell four-bladed, lightweight, composite swept propeller, designed specifically for its Supervan 900 single-engined turboprop.
Introduced in 2008, the Supervan is a re-engined version of the Cessna 208 Caravan, featuring a Honeywell TPE331-10/12JR turbine in place of the standard Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114/A.
Texas Turbine Conversions
The Denison, Texas-based company secured US approval for the Supervan's new propeller in May, following a 10-month development effort.
The system is 280cm (110in) in diameter and is 27kg (60lb) lighter than the type's current propeller, which is built from aluminium, says Hartzell.
When coupled with the TPE331 engine, the new propeller generates up to 30% more static thrust, reduces fuel consumption and "gives the aircraft a great performance bump", says TTC. The company records a global fleet of 94 Supervans, of which 26 are based in Europe.
Source: Flight International
