A400M propeller system gains certification
Hamilton Sundstrand has announced that the FH385/386 propeller system produced by its subsidiary Ratier-Figeac has been certified for the A400M military transport aircraft. The European Aviation Safety Agency granted the certification on 22 March 2012, marking a major milestone in the A400M's eight-bladed propeller programme.
The 17.5 ft. diameter propeller system for the A400M is all-new, and features eight, all-composite blades. The advanced design propeller system is the largest all-composite propeller in production.
Driven by an 11,000-horsepower engine, Hamilton Sundstrand's FH385/386 handles twice the power of any existing in-service propeller and offers a thrust efficiency peak close to 90 percent at high cruise speeds. Each wing features a pair of clockwise and counter-clockwise rotating propellers, which enhance overall aircraft stability and control, and further contribute to overall operating efficiency.
In addition to the propeller system, Hamilton Sundstrand and its subsidiaries supply the A400M's Secondary Electrical Power Distribution Centre (SEPDC), Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), Ram Air Turbine (RAT) emergency power system, Trimmable Horizontal Stabiliser Actuator (THSA), and the Throttle Control Assembly (TCA).
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