Hartzell Propeller purchases WhirlWind Propellers
WhirlWind’s carbon fiber propeller blade expertise expands Hartzell’s product portfolio into light sport aircraft.
Hartzell Propeller (Piqua, Ohio, U.S.), a company with 30 years of experience in the design and manufacturing of structural composite blades, has acquired WhirlWind Propellers Corp. (El Cajon, Calif., U.S.), expanding its propeller product portfolio into light sport aircraft (LSA).
Founded in 1995, WhirlWind Propellers manufactures composite constant-speed and ground-adjustable propellers for LSA, experimental and unmanned aircraft markets. The company also designs proof of concept propellers for emerging applications. Hartzell Propeller plans to retain the WhirlWind brand and product offerings.
“The acquisition allows Hartzell to further expand WhirlWind’s rapid propeller development capabilities for the design, tooling and manufacturing of advanced carbon [fiber] composite propellers,” JJ Frigge, president of Hartzell Propeller, says.
Hartzell will retain the services of Jim Rust, former president of WhirlWind Propellers. Rust’s technological expertise with rapid prototyping composite propeller systems will further enhances Hartzell’s existing capabilities.
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