U.S. modification specialist Commuter Air Technology (CAT) has signed a contract with Finnoff Aviation Products to provide five-blade MT composite propellers for Beech King Air 90s, 200s and 300s, the companies announced in Paris this week. Terms of the agreement grant CAT exclusive rights to sell MT Propellers to U.S. Department of Defense customers and to customers of foreign governments for which the U.S. serves as the contracting and/or financing agent.
MT’s composite airfoils feature a smaller propeller diameter and thus shorter blade size, which reduces noise due to slower tip speeds and increases the margin of safety between the blade tip and ground. The additional surface area of a five-blade propeller along with the slower tip speeds help to maintain smooth airflow over the blades and result in greater thrust for takeoff and climb.
The composite propellers are 16-percent lighter than aluminium systems, translating into a more useful load and lower engine stress and starting temperatures.
CAT is part of the Acorn Growth Companies, which is exhibiting here at the state of Oklahoma exhibit (Hall 3 Stand E311). The private equity group also includes AeroComposites, which develops new applications for composite materials, such as replacing metal weapon pylons on U.S. Army MH-60M helicopters to reduce weight.
Acorn president and CEO Rick Nagel told AIN that he is about to launch a new fundraising effort to support further planned acquisitions. The U.S. group has a total of 15 aviation businesses, including three UK-based firms.