Hartzell Propeller and Raisbeck Engineering have secured supplemental type certification (STC) from Argentina for a swept-blade turbofan propeller on the Beechcraft King Air B300 series and the 350.

The approval comes 16 months after the US Federal Aviation Administration became the first civil aviation authority to approve the $99,700 system for the twin-engined turboprops.

Raisbeck prop

Raisbeck

Built from aluminium, the four-blade, lightweight prop has an advanced swept blade design and offers improved take-off acceleration, better time to climb, faster cruise and improved landing deceleration, says Raisbeck. It also brings what the company calls a “measurable quietness in the cockpit and cabin”.

Flight Fleets Analyzer records a global fleet of more than 1,100 King Air 350 and B300 series models, which includes the B300C cargo variant . North America has the largest installed base with around 800, followed by Latin American with more than 100.

Source: Flight International