MT Flight-Tests Propeller With 11 Blades On A Piper Cheyenne

MT tested its new 11-blade propeller on a Piper Cheyenne but said the design would also be well-suited for electric power systems. [Courtesy: MT-Propeller]

MT-Propeller said it flight-tested a propeller with 11 blades as part of a continuing program to advance propeller technology and efficiency. While you might think the new product would look great on the nose of your Piper Saratoga, MT designed it with turbine and electric power systems in mind.

READ MORE: New Five-Blade Propeller Gains FAA STC for Cessna 206 Series

For the tests, the German company said it mounted the propeller on the right side of a Piper PA-31T1 powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A turbine engines. When the aircraft flew, MT said, the new propeller generated “an impressive noise and sound signature.”

Among the test results was a 15 percent increase in static thrust compared with the standard certified 5-blade propeller. The company said the power system als showed promise in terms of cutting engine and prop noise.

The company said the new propeller, which is still in the development stage, “combined with a low rpm power supply from a turbine or an electric engine opens new possibilities for performance, efficiency and noise.”

It is unclear whether MT plans to apply for a supplemental type certificate for the propeller. The company has experimented with numerous prop configurations in recent years, including a 9-blade model tested on the Cheyenne in 2019.

11-blade MT MT-Propeller Piper Cheyenne turboprop

Jonathan WelshAuthor

Jonathan Welsh is a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4