Hartzell Propeller has received supplemental type certification (STC) from the FAA for its composite three-blade, carbon-fiber propeller and spinner designed specifically for aerobatic flying.
The Talon propeller was created for the GB1 GameBird, the aircraft of choice for aerobatic pilots, including champion Sean D. Tucker, according to Hartzell.
Tucker flew with the new propeller on his GB1 GameBird under an FAA field approval, helping the propeller manufacturer gain valuable information that helped with its development.
According to Tucker, the new propeller helped him obtain performance gains.
“In a head-to-head race between my GameBird equipped with the Talon and a factory-standard model, the difference was astounding,” Tucker said. “At full throttle, the Talon felt like having an extra 30 horsepower. The thrust improvement is unmatched, especially crucial in formation flying and aerobatics.”
Tucker added that the additional performance did not come at the expense of additional noise.
Range of Enhancements
According to Hartzell, the 77.5-inch diameter Talon propeller delivers a range of enhancements, including a 5 percent to 8 percent increase in climb performance at 120 knots, a 5 percent increase in maximum climb at 90 knots, and more than a 20 percent reduction on takeoff ground roll.
The Talon propeller offers improved handling, unlimited life blades, and 1,000-hour/six-year time between overhaul (TBO) backed by a Hartzell warranty through the first overhaul, the company said.
“The Talon propeller outperforms the factory-standard, four-blade, wood-core propeller in numerous ways,” Hartzell Propeller president JJ Frigge said in a statement. “With growing interest in the market, we’re excited to make this high-performance propeller available to all GB1 owners.”
The GB1 is powered by the Lycoming 303 hp AEIO-580 engine. Before the addition of a Hartzell Talon propeller, it offered an 83-gallon fuel capacity, maximum level speed of 205 knots, climb rate of 2,600 fpm, and service ceiling of 15,500 feet, according to the company.
Tucker is the owner of GB1 Serial No. 16, which he describes as the “most exciting high-performance, two-seat aerobatic flying machine in the world.”
