Hartzell Propeller to partner with Eviation Aircraft on electric commuter aircraft
Eviation’s all-electric Alice aircraft will utilize Hartzell’s 5-blade carbon fiber blades and Bantam hub series.
Hartzell Propeller Inc. (Piqua, OH, US) announced Nov. 5 it has been selected by Eviation Aircraft (Kadima, Israel), a global manufacturer of all-electric air mobility solutions, as a development partner for Eviation’s debut aircraft, the all-electric Alice. With zero-emissions and 100% battery-electric solution, the Alice aircraft will be test flown at the 53rd Paris Air Show in June 2019. Under the terms of the development partnership, Hartzell Propeller will provide customized and optimized propellers and support systems.
Eviation’s Alice will provide high-energy density battery-powered fleets to regional carriers in the US. With development support from Hartzell Propeller, the Alice will be equipped with an innovative system of new propellers, designed to meet the unique needs of the first-in-kind aircraft. The design and manufacture of the propeller systems will utilize Hartzell’s 5-blade carbon fiber blades and Bantam hub series to provide the optimal combination of reduced weight and maximum performance.
Each of the propellers in the three-unit ship set will be approximately 65 inches in diameter and feature carbon fiber blades with nickel cobalt leading edges, certified for unlimited life. The structural composite propellers will be integrated with Eviation’s proprietary technology advances, including: thermal management and autonomous landing, distributed electric propulsion, and composite body frames capable of carrying up to nine passengers on a single charge for 650 miles.
Related Content
-
Composites manufacturing for general aviation aircraft
General aviation, certified and experimental, has increasingly embraced composites over the decades, a path further driven by leveraged innovation in materials and processes and the evolving AAM market.
-
Plant tour: Teijin Carbon America Inc., Greenwood, S.C., U.S.
In 2018, Teijin broke ground on a facility that is reportedly the largest capacity carbon fiber line currently in existence. The line has been fully functional for nearly two years and has plenty of room for expansion.
-
The lessons behind OceanGate
Carbon fiber composites faced much criticism in the wake of the OceanGate submersible accident. CW’s publisher Jeff Sloan explains that it’s not that simple.