GT Propeller

Brain Kelley ( flyboy Kelley on here) put one on his RV-8 for the electric constant speed to work with the Rotec 9 cylinder radial . A search of his build should get you some info about it.
 
Dear Vansairforce members greetings from Tuscany Italy

After 3 years of intensive work finally my RV7 with one Lycoming O360A1a ,180 HP driving a constant speed prop and analog avionics had airborne on the 25th of March.
After the first flight of about 20 minuts little cruise and some touch and go were made. All went well.
The performance noted solo and half fuel are :
Take off distance about 100 meters,330 ft.
Climb rateo 2000 FT @ 100 kts
Economic cruise was 160 kts @ 2300 rpm,23 MAP.

The prop I have adopted is the Hartzell HC2YK upgrade with wood composite GTV24HY blades.
Company suggested 73” diameter.
Compared the original stock Hartzell the GT blades reduced weight of about 10 kg,20 pounds with very low inertia moment. Much appreciated on take off !!
Very smooth, expected dynamic balance by factory shortly.
See company link,

http://www.gt-propellers.com/hartzell-propellers.html

I’ll be more precise in performance after next flights.

Thanks Umberto and Vans for this fantastic aircraft.

*******check the link below for my second rv7 with my second tonini prop**********

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showpost.php?p=1321183&postcount=7
 
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Please tell us more about your experience

dilamipo said:
Dear Vansairforce members greetings from Tuscany Italy

After 3 years of intensive work finally my RV7 with one Lycoming O360A1a ,180 HP driving a constant speed prop and analog avionics had airborne on the 25th of March.
After the first flight of about 20 minuts little cruise and some touch and go were made. All went well.
The performance noted solo and half fuel are :
Take off distance about 100 meters,330 ft.
Climb rateo 2000 FT @ 100 kts
Economic cruise was 160 kts @ 2300 rpm,23 MAP.

The prop I have adopted is the Hartzell HC2YK upgrade with wood composite GTV24HY blades.
Company suggested 73” diameter.
Compared the original stock Hartzell the GT blades reduced weight of about 10 kg,20 pounds with very low inertia moment. Much appreciated on take off !!
Very smooth, expected dynamic balance by factory shortly.
See company link,

http://www.gt-propellers.com/hartzell-propellers.html

I’ll be more precise in performance after next flights.

Thanks Umberto and Vans for this fantastic aircraft.

*******check the link below for my second rv7 with my second tonini prop**********

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showpost.php?p=1321183&postcount=7
Click to expand...

I’d like to hear more about your experiences with the GT propeller.
Any maintenance issues? How many hours do you have on it, etc.

Thanks
Dave
 
GT Propeller approached me to test their new 3 Blade ground-adjustable prop on my -8.
Unfortunately i first had to solve some other issues but they are solved now.
Communication about testing is currently ongoing.

The biggest advantage is the weight (especially on a -8)and that it is designed with a redline RPM of 3000 and good for 280 hp!
Especially if you want to do aerobatics with a FP prop, you have to worry less on the down-lines not to exceed any given redline RPMs.

At Oshkosh i talked to Patrick McAlee (Airshow Performer flying a Pitts). He is flying this prop and said that on he up-line he gained almost 500ft over the previous prop.
He was very happy with the prop.

As soon as i can provide data, i will post them here.

@Alex: please check your PM and Email inbox
 
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GT Propellers still in business?

Hello All,
I talked to Alex Tonini of GT Propellers in Italy about GT delivering a set of replacement blades for a Hartzell hub. This was one year ago, November 2021. We agreed he would deliver a set of blades fitted on my hub, which he received 6 months ago. I had already paid the full amount for the blades and installation by then.

Today I have not received my propeller and I can no longer get in touch with the company in any way. There is no answer on the phone and no reply to emails, Messenger, Whatsapp etc.

Does anybody know anything about the status of the company? Are they active, or in some kind of trouble financial, technical or..?

PS: Apologies if the question is outside the scope of this discussion forum.

UPDATE: One week after this posting, Paolo at GT propellers picked up the phone when I called yet another time. If I understand what Paolo said correctly, then the company is in the process of relocating causing major problems and delays for the production.
Nevertheless, another week later a large box appeared on my doorstep with a shiny propeller from GT. There has been no further explanation or communication from GT but I eventualy received what I bought a year ago.

So now the excitement will be to see how it works on the plane. Hopefully I will be ready in a few months.
 
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I’m going to resurect this thread and ask Lars and Daida if they can please give an update on their props.
I’m thinking of swapping the Hartzell paddles on my Rocket for a set of GT Blades.
Also, if anyone else has any info or experience with GT, please chime in.
Thanks!
 
Unfortunatly the testing did not work out on my plane.
Italys RV numbers are growing fast and they got another testbed closer to their facility.
I don’t know whether one of them is here on the forum or how to get in contact. You probably will find them (the “testpilots”) on local groups on FB.
So far i’ve heard nothing bad and definitely consider one of their props if i ever need/want a replacement for my current.
 
Sensenich GA, the one that i already had before i got in contact wirh GT.
I love my prop, it is a keeper. And their customer support is fabulous!
I would only change for shipping and custom issues.
 
As many know, I have a GT propeller my radial powered RV-8. They were the only company willing to produce a custom electric constant speed prop for my project. Since then I have had a great relationship with the Tonini family. In fact they are currently working on an upgraded propeller design for the radial RV. With this thread Alex asked me to pass this message along. I'd also happy to chat with people about my experience with the prop and company.

From Alex Tonini:

From one side we are happy here at GT but from the other side is little more complicated. GT is fully involved in general aviation and big powerful turbine drones propellers with over 1500 SHP. Now that GT is no longer only controlled by the Tonini's family but also some other companies are involved with us. After 55 continuous years this is a natural evolution.

With the recent main US company reorganizations, we had a huge demand for CS propellers for the Lycoming engines, so most homebuilders are asking us every day for our solutions for these aircraft. Our hubs have the feature of on-wings-blades removal. The hub is standard and blades are adjustable in diameter and pitch, e.g. custom blades made for the customers requirements. Example, a 2 blade 72/74 for an RV 180/220 HP or 82 inches always for the 2 blade but for a STOL plane. Also spinners can be tailored. The most demanded are the 13 inch spinner. Natural composite blades, metal protected, very nice and efficient scimitar design. All the components are in house GT made.

We are working hard for bigger production of the 2 blade and the 3-blade hydraulic controlled. This technology is adopted from several years, over 30 years here, with very positive results but what we are organizing the big serial production. We were expecting this big interest in our CS natural composite blades with scimitar design but our schedule was to be ready in the 2025.

I'm anticipating here some pics of the 2 and 3 blade made for local and US clients.

We have experience on big drones operating in very difficult areas or warbirds propellers. Based on this we can assure that the on-wings blades removal has outstanding advantages during prop life. Low price on transportation is safer. Easy to replace in potential prop strike. Bigger resales ,possibility to test many blades GT models in site, on same hub in 5 minutes per blade etc.

Another first for GT Propellers, shared only with our German colleagues!

Currently, out of ten propeller producers servicing the turbine operators, only two are using natural wood/composite blades technology. These blades with unlimited life are produced only in Bavaria and Romagna, two regions south of Germany and central Italy respectively. These regions are also called the Motor Valley due to the large concentration of famous supercar and motorbike manufacturers.



Although we at GT, are sharing production of turbine propellers with our German colleagues, we are the first to develop the technology for removable blades in natural composite.



The advantages of this system are:

• Quick blade replacement

• On site removal and assembly in case of FOD

• Possibility of a higher damage repairs

• Reduction of engineer/mechanic's labor cost

• Less internal damage to powerplant in case of a prop strike

• Reduction of approximate 40% in transport fees when compared to a fully assembled prop

Agriculture, vintage and utility aircraft and powerful drones are converting to this technology and benefitting of these advantages.

For additional details please let me know at:

GT Propellers
Via del Commercio, 7
47838 Riccione (RN) Italy
Tel. +39 0541 69 33 99
Fax +39 0541 69 33 31
www.gt-propellers.com
[email protected]
 
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