Hartzell Propeller: What the Converted are Saying

“The improved thrust on the runway is very noticeable with the new Hartzell propeller. Not only does my aircraft takeoff and climb faster, but I also experience a lot less vibration and lower noise levels in the cabin.” Tom Kieffer, Eden Prairie, Minn, member of the Malibu Mirage Owners and Pilots Association (MMOPA) and operator of a 1989 Mirage.
“The airplane is tremendously faster out of the water ... the climb is also improved, and I believe that I can get more speed with lower fuel burn during cruise. Elimination of the restricted arc on the tachometer is also a plus.” Mr. Patrick Shier, Auke Bay, Alaska, Cessna 170, new 80-inch diameter Top Prop™
"On takeoff roll, the acceleration is much quicker ... the rate of climb is outstanding and the propeller conversion definitely is much quieter in the cockpit. I certainly can state that I probably have picked up some 2-4 knots." Ed Buford, Dallas, Texas, Mooney, PRIVATE PILOT magazine, January, 1990
"The Benders noted significant reductions in noise and vibration with the three-bladed prop and consider the improvements in speed and increased flexibility of cruise power settings to be well worth the investment." PRIVATE PILOT magazine, January, 1990, Piper Arrow
"The takeoff roll seems shorter, the aircraft seems to climb better, the noise level at cruise is quieter and the vibration is improved tremendously with the three-bladed Hartzells." Allan Stallings, Jackson, Mississippi, Beech Baron
"After eight months and 100 hours of flying with the Hartzell conversion I believe I’m getting 15-20% shorter takeoff runs short field takeoffs." Jim Cavin, Columbus, Ohio, Mooney
"With my new Hartzell propeller I’ve noticed an increase in climb from 500-600 Feet per minute to 700-750 feet per minute as well as a 200-250 feet shorter takeoff roll making it a pretty good short runway aircraft." Jim Barrett, Baltimore, Maryland, Cessna Cardinal
"Mooney’s are wonderful airplanes but quiet they are not. Long ago I installed a four-place Clark intercom for all. Without the headsets it was literally impossible to converse with your copilot without leaning over to him and yelling. Now with our new Hartzell prop conversion we can both remove our headsets and believe it or not we can actually talk with each other without yelling. There was still the engine noise but a lot less wind noise." Jim Cavin, Columbus, Ohio, Mooney
"The plane seems to respond in a more solid way in all of the approaches I’ve made with the new Hartzell three-blader ... the aircraft stays where you want it to stay." Pat Cerillo, New York, Beech Bonanza
"Approach speeds and the ability to slow the airplane down on short final are measurably improved. As every Mooney pilot knows, without speed brakes close attention to speed on final is critical. The Hartzell three-blader acts as an extremely effective brake and measurably expands the flexibility of the aircraft, particularly during instrument approach work and when short field performance is necessary." Bruce L. Lev, Rowayton, Connecticut, Mooney
"With the two-blader on there, the minute you started up if you didn’t have headsets on you’d have to strain to communicate. With the Hartzell three-blader you can talk normally while doing a run-up." James Raffle, Hopwood, Pennsylvania, Piper Arrow
"The aircraft seems significantly quieter with the Hartzell three-blade installation. Faster descents are possible on approaches and it has proved to be smoother overall than the two-bladed prop." Kenneth Shrable,Long Beach, California, Mooney
"It is particularly quieter with the Hartzell prop, it sounds better, and of course it looks better." Pat Cerillo, New York, Beech Bonanza
"On the way upstairs, it was obvious the Mooney was far smoother with the three-bladed Hartzell. Vibration transmitted from the front of the airplane was considerably less than with the stock, two-blade prop." PLANE & PILOT magazine, June, 1991, Mooney flight test
"With the Hartzell prop there’s a noticeable improvement in the climb rate and the length of runway it takes to get off." James Raffle, Hopwood, Pennsylvania, Piper Arrow
"Standard two-bladed Baron props tend to pick up everything on the ground ... and the loose gravel on the old WWII airfields common throughout the south where I operate makes matters worse. The shorter diameter on the new Hartzell three-bladers improves this situation tremendously." Allan Stallings, Jackson, Mississippi, Beech Baron
"... the airplane was quieter with the Hartzell tri-blade. The dB count came in at only 96 compared to 108 with two blades spinning out front. Since the decibel scale is logarithmic, that’s a very big improvement." PLANE & PILOT magazine, June, 1991, Mooney flight test
"The climb rate is definitely improved with the Hartzell three-bladed prop ... we were recently in Florida climbing at 800 fpm up around 7 or 8,000 feet or so and that’s a definite improvement over the two-blader." Pat Cerillo, New York, Beech Bonanza
"Better yet is the versatility of operation available without the previous rev restrictions. Peeling off 500 rpm from the normally high rpm cruise lets us descend rapidly without stretching the caution arc on the airspeed indicator. And it let us set the power to match the mission: economy cruise for long distances or fast for shorter runs." PRIVATE PILOT magazine, January, 1990, Mooney flight test