AeroComposites was founded by a team of retired Hamilton Standardand Pratt & Whitney aerospace engineers. The company's facility is equipped with the latest in engineering design tools and composites manufacturing equipment. During the first year of operation, the company was awarded several major contracts from international aerospace companies to train personnel in the design and manufacture of advanced composite design structures. Funding from these contracts paid for company startup, facility improvements, office and computer equipment, composite materials research, initial propeller aerodynamic and structural designs, composite blade fabrication feasibility studies, and the design and fabrication of the company's state-of-the-art Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) blade manufacturing facility. The AeroComposites' team includes aerospace engineers with commercial and military composites variable pitch propeller and fan experience that cumulatively exceeds 200 years. This experience relates to all aspects of engineering (e.g. design, materials, test, manufacturing) related toCustomer Meeting Room composite propellers and fans. In addition, the team is highly experienced in the FAA Certification process for propeller systems, having worked on numerous commercial aviation certified propeller programs. The company's charter is to design and manufacture the very best advanced technology variable and fixed pitch propellers and ducted fans for general aviation, commercial, and military aircraft (e.g. UAV's), and at competitive prices. Primary design criteria adopted by AeroComposites for RTM Manufacturing its propellers and fans is safety, performance, and durability in that order. While this criteria includes consideration of factors such as propeller weight and cost, no features have been incorporated or excluded from AeroComposites' propeller designs that would compromise aircraft flight safety. Propeller AssemblyAeroComposites transitioned from its propeller design/development phase, late in 2001, into full production. Today, there are a large number of experimental category aircraft owners who have purchased and are flying AeroComposites propellers. Customers include owners of Lancair, Van's RV, Glasair, Murphy Rebel, Seawind, Stallion, F1 Rocket, Express, SX-300, Tango II, and numerous other aircraft models. Flight test results reported from owners of these operational aircraft has been excellent. Testimonicals, some of which are included in this web site, typically include statements of improved acceleration and climb rates, shorter take-off rolls, increased cruise speeds, smooth operation with no vibration (there are no engine rpm restrictions to 3100 rpm), quieter cabin environment, very fast propeller speed control response, very clean propeller operation, weight savings, blade leading edges that don't degrade/erode, and more! Starting in 2004, AeroComposites became heavily involved in the design and manufacture of variable pitch propellers and ducted fans for military unmanned air vehicles (UAV's). The blade pitch change control systems for these composite propeller/fan systems range from the use of electronic, hydraulic, to spring activated mechanical push-pull mechanisms. AeroComposites technology was selected for a major international composites industry competition (prize/trophy) for "composites quality and process innovation". It has been said of AeroComposites propellers/fans, that they "... represent the most significant advance in propeller/fan technology in the past 50 years". The newest of AeroComposites' designs (patent pending) has direct application to high by-pass ratio turbofan engines, applications that the company is actively pursuing.
