Pre-1998 Malibu Mirage owners now have the chance to upgrade their propellers to that which Piper

has been installing on new aircraft since 1998.

Hartzell Propeller’s Top Prop STC conversion kit is a three-blade, 80-inch diameter composite propeller which reduces takeoff ground roll by up to 25 per cent, according to Piper. Aircraft can clear 50 feet in 11 per cent less takeoff distance; cruise speed remains the same.

The new kit features Kevlar-epoxy blades with advanced airfoils, originally designed for the regional aircraft market, and certified to the latest lightning and bird-strike criteria.

Installation also includes a ground lockout system to prevent blade damage resulting from the accidental operation of the de-icing system.

“Improved thrust on the runway is very noticeable with the new Hartzell propeller,” said Tom Kieffer, a member of the Malibu Mirage Owners and Pilots Association, who operates a 1989 Mirage. “Not only does my aircraft take off and climb faster, but I also experienced a lot less vibration and lower noise levels in the cabin.”

List price is $21,900 for the Top Prop kit, including a six-year, 2,400 hour TBO.\r

Hartzell’s waranty covers the kit for three years or 1,000 hours.