Hartzell Propeller's composite Trailblazer props are now certified for Cessna's T206H in both the United States and Canada. The prop offers improved performance, especially on float-equipped aircraft. Float manufacturer Wipaire's CEO Bob Wiplinger made the announcement of the certification at Sun ’n’ Fun 2016.

“The Trailblazer prop pulls hard and really performs," said Wiplinger. "It's an improvement in every regime, from weight to thrust to climb performance, and that makes it a great prop on floats. Its shape and design also make it a quiet prop, which keeps your neighbors happy."

Hartzell's composite design allows the Trailblazer blades to be thinner with a wider chord for lighter weight and improved performance. The carbon fiber composition is 5 to 10 times stronger than natural fiber propeller cores, according to Wiplinger.

The 84-inch composite propeller is available for both terrestrial aircraft and floatplanes, delivering increased performance in both configurations. As tested on a Wipline 3450-float equipped T206H, the Trailblazer offers an 8 percent reduction in ground roll and water run compared with a metal floatplane propeller. It also offers a 5 percent increase in climb rate and removes the RPM limitation, according to Wipaire.

A Trailblazer-equipped aircraft is on display at Wipaire's booth (MD-003D) at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport this week.