The world's first nine-bladed propeller has commenced its flight test programme, flying at 220 kias and 1,700 rpm earlier this month with maximum torque on a PT6A-135A turbine-powered Cheyenne test aircraft. Developer MT-Propeller says that initial results are promising, adding that the function, handling and operation of the aircraft are as if nine blade props have been in service for years.

The prop has been created for low noise, high performance future aircraft driven by electric powered engines, turbine engines or geared piston engines for propellers with low rpm. Depending on the design of the propeller driven aircraft, top speeds of up to 430 kts can be reached with reduced fuel consumption, according to MT.

The manufacturer currently produces 30 propeller models from two blade to seven blade hydraulically controlled variable pitch propellers for engines producing up to 5,000 hp, and two blade to four blade electrically controlled variable pitch propellers for engines producing up to 350 hp as well as two blade fixed pitch propellers.

MT-Propeller is the holder of over 210 STCs worldwide and the OEM supplier for more than 90 per cent of the European aircraft industry as well as 30 per cent of the US aircraft industry, with 62 active service centres worldwide. 22,000 propeller systems with more than 74,000 blades are in service, and MT propellers have accumulated 150 million hours since the first shipment 37 years ago.