Intercontinental Jet Service Corp (IJSC), a factory-owned and authorised Mitsubishi MU-2 service centre located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has obtained an STC for Hartzell Propeller's scimitar four-blade aluminum propeller installations on MU-2 twin-engine aircraft. Models covered include more than 260 MU-2B, -26A, -40, -36A, and -60 aircraft built by Mitsubishi.

The STC by IJSC, a Hartzell Propeller recommended service facility, replaces the previous Hartzell steel hub prop installations with lighter weight aluminum hubs and blades. The new installation saves 17 pounds per engine and delivers better performance.

“Intercontinental Jet and Hartzell collaborated closely on this project, and we are pleased that many MU-2 operators now have an opportunity for better performance with a much more economical and convenient time between overhaul with this STC,” says Hartzell president JJ Frigge. “Our scimitar design delivers optimised performance, reduced noise signature and better fuel efficiency.”

IJSC's first installation under the new STC was on a MU-2 owned by Jay Consalvi, a Colorado-based ex-Navy fighter pilot. In addition to flying numerous combat missions in F-14 Tomcats and F-18F Super Hornets off the USS Harry Truman, he won the 2017 National Championship Reno Air Races.

“The new scimitar design is cool. It looks like it means business and it's ready to go racing,” Consalvi says. “It starts quicker and cooler and is smoother and quieter than the previous props. I fly a lot of long legs at 96 per cent and I get nearly the same cruise speed I had with the old props at 100 per cent. And I climb to 280 in two minutes less.”

Available through IJSC, the completed kit includes installation, custom polished and larger aluminum spinner, propeller to engine rigging and dynamic balance, with trade-in of existing propellers. The lighter weight aluminum hub propellers have an extended 4,000-hour/six-year TBO, whichever occurs first. The previous steel hub propellers had a 3,500-hour/five-year TBO.