Hartzell Propeller’s new five-blade composite swept-tip propeller has received FAA STC approval for the Piper M600, the company announced yesterday. Designed specifically for the turboprop single, the propeller features a stainless steel shank, nickel cobalt leading edge, and mesh erosion screen for FOD protection.

The "advanced design" of the carbon composite propeller blades allows for an unlimited life certification and makes them up to 10 times stronger than similar wood core blades, Hartzell said. The five-blade composite propeller is now offered as a Piper factory option on new M600s.

According to Piper Aircraft president and CEO Simon Caldecott, the composite propeller option “provides the opportunity for increased performance…[and] a contemporary look, and enhances cabin comfort by reducing in-flight vibration.”