Hartzell Propeller history

While variable pitch propellers were tested for years, it wasn’t until 1929 that Wallace Turnbull patented a design for an automatic variable pitch propeller.

However, it was not the move to metal that led to the real revolution of aviation in the 1930’s – it was advances in airplane wing and propeller design.

By 1932, the first variable pitch propellers were used in general operation of aircraft.

By 1935, the aircraft industry was the single largest consumer of magnesium, which was used to build everything from propellers to fuel tanks.

In the 1940’s, wide rectangular blades came into use as engine power increased, as they absorbed more energy than traditional round-tip blades.

In August 1974, a prototype aircraft, designed by Short Brothers of Belfast, took to the sky for its maiden flight.

In 1975, as the Shorts 330 transitioned from prototype to production-ready aircraft, Short Brothers and Hartzell Propeller formed a partnership with an ambitious goal: to make the Shorts 330 the first aircraft certified with a 5-blade propeller.

Hartzell achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification and launched new company-wide brand image to form synergy throughout all divisions of the Hartzell companies.

In October of 2011, Hartzell opened a new manufacturing and sales office in Singapore to better support international customers and assist in the global expansion strategy.

Hartzell also launched the AM Prop, a medium-pressure, adjustable-pitch, marine-duty propeller, in December 2012 to complete its marine fan product line.