Successful Start for Sundstrand's New Composite Prop

Hamilton Sundstrand's eight-bladed NP2000 composite propeller system, selected by the US Navy for its E-2C Hawkeye and C-2A Greyhound aircraft programs in November 1997, has performed successfully in an initial series of test flights on an E-2C at NAS Patuxent River, MD.

A military derivative of the commercial six-bladed 568F propeller designed and manufactured by Hamilton Sundstrand and its French subsidiary, Ratier Figeac, the NP2000 will replace existing HS 54H60 propellers on the two USN aircraft types. Ratier Figeac manufactures the composite blades, which are assembled and tested at Hamilton Sundstrand's Windsor Locks facility. The $44.5 million USN contract covers 188 propeller sets, with 54 more options.

USN test pilot Glenn Jamison noted that the aircraft and propeller system operated flawlessly throughout the nearly two-hour flight, completing 100% of the priority test maneuvers. "Test results correlated extremely well with predictions for those airworthiness disciplines we investigated, including engine-propeller compatibility, structural loads, and aircraft handling qualities," said Jamison. "I was particularly impressed with the substantial reduction in cockpit vibration and noise levels. This is a marked improvement from the baseline aircraft, and will be a welcome enhancement for fleet operations."

This progress clears the way to production, and supports Hamilton Sundstrand's efforts for further marketing applications. According to propulsion business general manager Mike Zalucki, the new propeller is also ideally suited for Lockheed P-3 Orion and C-130 Hercules modernization.

By John Fricker