There is a vital need in the GA market for FAA certified low cost, efficient and low noise propellers. Aeronautical Testing Service, Inc.& Embry Riddle Aeronautical Univ. propose to design and create a manufacturing process for thin blade sections, low noise GA propellers with swept blades, and lower tip speeds with minimal thrust and weight penalties. The effort also seeks to employ noise canceling to further reduce GA propulsion system noise pollution.
Potential Commercial Applications: A new generation highly-efficient, light weight, long life propellers will have excellent commercial prospects for existing GA airplanes as well as for emerging the next generation GA aircraft. Since propeller replacements are a fact of life for the 50,000 or so active GA airplanes there should be a steady market for these propellers. Beyond this there exists a worldwide market as well as a market for larger propellers in the commuter and business aircraft markets.
