Daher has delivered the first Kodiak 100 single-engine turboprop to be equipped with a five-blade composite propeller from Hartzell. The aircraft went to the North Carolina Forest Service’s Aviation Division, where it will be used to ferry equipment and supplies to support aerial tankers conducting wildfire suppression operations. The five-blade prop was announced as an option for the Kodiak 100 earlier this year.
“With its enormous useful load, off-airport capabilities, simple and rugged design, the Kodiak 100 is ideal for such a broad range of applications,” said Paul Carelli, Daher director of Kodiak flight operations and special missions. “In addition to the performance improvement with Hartzell’s five-blade composite propeller, the aircraft is extremely quiet. This is significant for missions such as forestry and law enforcement, and also is very important when flying recreationally in backcountry environments.”
According to Daher, the new propeller is 13 pounds lighter and six dB(A) quieter and reduces the aircraft’s takeoff roll by 6 percent at maximum gross weight compared to the original four-blade aluminum Hartzell prop. It measures 96 inches in diameter, offering a ground clearance of 16.4 inches and time between overhaul (TBO) of 4,000 hours or six years. The five-blade composite prop is available as an option on all new-production Kodiak 100 Series III aircraft and as a retrofit for the rest of the Kodiak 100 fleet. Introduced in 2021, the Kodiak 100 Series III offers a top speed of 183 knots, 1,132-NM range and useful load of 3,530 pounds.
It helps the performance some but the looks a lot. I love the aesthetic of the 5 blade. Looks like a sinister Cuisinart of the sky 😉
William, as I looked at that pic, I tried to form a description of what I was seeing. You nailed it!