Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > PPRuNe Worldwide > The Pacific: General Aviation & Questions
Reload this Page >

RFDS Western Australia - modifying PC-12's with 5 blade props

The Pacific: General Aviation & Questions The place for students, instructors and charter guys in Oz, NZ and the rest of Oceania.

RFDS Western Australia - modifying PC-12's with 5 blade props

Old 13th Nov 2020, 12:27
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Rockhampton
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
RFDS Western Australia - modifying PC-12's with 5 blade props

November 11, 2020,
from: AIN online

Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in Western Australia is upgrading its fleet of Pilatus PC-12 turboprop singles with Hartzell 105-inch-diameter, five-blade composite propellers. The new propellers will replace the existing Hartzell four-blade aluminum propellers on the utility aircraft that the RFDS uses for medical emergencies and patient transfers. Last year the RFDS fleet transported 9,012 patients over 8 million kilometers (4.97 million miles) across Western Australia, reaching some of its most remote corners.

RFDS already has three PC-12s in service with the five-blade propellers installed at the Pilatus factory and two more are undergoing installation at RFDS’s maintenance base in Jandakot. The operator further has three more on order, and RFDS Western Operations managing engineer Andy Lewis said plans call to upgrade its entire fleet of 16 PC-12s. West Coast Propeller, Hartzell’s recommended service facility in Western Australia, is supporting the conversion.

"The new Hartzell propellers are lighter, stronger, require less maintenance, and provide more torque, which enables the aircraft to fly better and ultimately save on fuel," Lewis said, adding they will also reduce vibration, increasing patient comfort.

"The five-blade composite swept-tip props chosen by the RFDS are specially designed to maximize performance for the Pilatus PC-12," added Hartzell Propeller president JJ Frigge. "The prop is a product of Hartzell's multimillion-dollar investment in structural composites, advanced aerodynamics, and modern manufacturing processes."
Office Update is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2020, 21:49
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Oz
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
https://hartzellprop.com/hartzell-in...r-pc-12-fleet/
Pettibone is offline  
Old 14th Nov 2020, 09:45
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: BAO
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Shouldn't, do know that- 'Field Repair' approval.....?????, or pull the Blade on-site....???

Just a question.
rgds
S28- BE
Section28- BE is offline  
Old 14th Nov 2020, 19:56
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
Received 46 Likes on 20 Posts
Originally Posted by Section28- BE
Shouldn't, do know that- 'Field Repair' approval.....?????, or pull the Blade on-site....???

Just a question.
rgds
S28- BE
Why field approval? Pretty sure it’s just an STC.
havick is offline  
Old 14th Nov 2020, 22:33
  #5 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Rockhampton
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Bolt the new prop on to engine.
Insert STC into AFM and review any Operational Limitations.
Good advice to suggest conducting 'dynamic prop balance'
Sell old props to other RFDS divisions or Ebay

Easy easy!
Office Update is offline  
Old 15th Nov 2020, 03:14
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 551
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
How do the composite props hold up on dirt?
Kiwiconehead is offline  
Old 15th Nov 2020, 05:54
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Aus
Posts: 125
Received 13 Likes on 9 Posts
Originally Posted by Kiwiconehead
How do the composite props hold up on dirt?
You need to keep a few tubes of Araldite handy...

Switchbait is offline  
Old 15th Nov 2020, 07:39
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 551
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Switchbait
You need to keep a few tubes of Araldite handy...
Same as the Dowty props on the Q400 then
Kiwiconehead is offline  
Old 15th Nov 2020, 08:31
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: BAO
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Switchbait
You need to keep a few tubes of Araldite handy...
Righteo then, gotya!!! Ta- assume, the 5x minute/300 second variety- link here: https://www.selleys.com.au/products/...dite-5-minute/

Given, The Mission and Contingent Risk/Liability Study and then Compliance etc. ....- then also, the 'Busted Ringer' on the stretcher/ or the 'busted' Appendix....

Mr Hartzell link here, ALL Good: https://hartzellprop.com/services/ov...repair-videos/

Thanks all- got 'it' now....!!!!
Sorry to interrupt.
rgds
S28- BE

Last edited by Section28- BE; 15th Nov 2020 at 10:41. Reason: Q400's into Dirt...?????- but, yes same/same...???/Assume.
Section28- BE is offline  
Old 15th Nov 2020, 13:56
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Next door to the neighbor from hell, who believes in chemtrails!
Age: 75
Posts: 1,807
Received 25 Likes on 18 Posts
Several of the YPAD based PC-12's have the 5 blade props.

DF.
Desert Flower is offline  
Old 15th Nov 2020, 20:30
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Equatorial
Age: 51
Posts: 1,056
Received 115 Likes on 57 Posts
No one has mentioned what I consider a very important reason.

How good do they look!

Global Aviator is offline  
Old 15th Nov 2020, 20:39
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Age: 58
Posts: 1,903
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Is it the NGX propeller or something different ?
atakacs is offline  
Old 15th Nov 2020, 21:51
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 131
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I'm guessing that better ground clearance is also a factor?
0ttoL is offline  
Old 15th Nov 2020, 23:25
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: In a house
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Doesn’t matter how many blades your prop has when you only have one engine.
Blueskymine is offline  
Old 16th Nov 2020, 03:45
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Enroute from Dagobah to Tatooine...!
Posts: 791
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Both the 4 blade aluminium and the 5 blade composite props on the PC12 are 105" diameter so no real change to prop clearance...

The composite props have a steel leading edge strip so it would take a lot more effort to damage them than the aluminium ones... I doubt RFDS would be running them unless they had proven that they hold up well on the dirt strips.
Captain Nomad is offline  
Old 16th Nov 2020, 05:07
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
They better be good cause at $85K or so per prop that's a LOT of donation dollars!
machtuk is offline  
Old 16th Nov 2020, 10:31
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Aus
Posts: 125
Received 13 Likes on 9 Posts
Originally Posted by Kiwiconehead
Same as the Dowty props on the Q400 then
I assume so. It’s how we filled the dings in the EMB120 props too
Switchbait is offline  
Old 16th Nov 2020, 21:05
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 131
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Captain Nomad
Both the 4 blade aluminium and the 5 blade composite props on the PC12 are 105" diameter so no real change to prop clearance...

The composite props have a steel leading edge strip so it would take a lot more effort to damage them than the aluminium ones... I doubt RFDS would be running them unless they had proven that they hold up well on the dirt strips.
Great information. Thank You Captain!!
0ttoL is offline  
Old 17th Nov 2020, 10:38
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: perth
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 1 Post
I have it on good authority that you can pick the difference in performance. Not necessarily in a good way.
bolthead is offline  
Old 17th Nov 2020, 14:54
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Aust
Posts: 201
Received 18 Likes on 9 Posts
Originally Posted by bolthead
I have it on good authority that you can pick the difference in performance. Not necessarily in a good way.
Really? I’ve got plenty of time behind both props and given the choice I’d take the five-blade every time.

Performance is much better during take-off / climb and it’s also noticeably smoother / less vibration.
rcoight is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.