The historic Fairey Reed propeller has transitioned to flight testing, offering a new solution for owners of vintage aircraft.
Developed by Italian manufacturer GT Propellers, the new version replicates the exact look, dimensions, and weight of the original fixed-pitch metal propeller introduced in the late 1940s for the de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk, according to company officials.
According to a report by Vintage Aviation News, engineers utilized a de Havilland Tiger Moth as a flying testbed for the initial 12 hours of flight evaluations before testing the propeller on a Chipmunk.
While visually identical to its historic predecessor, the redesigned propeller integrates advanced composite construction and a ground-adjustable pitch system that allows owners to optimize performance for climb or cruise in roughly 10 minutes, company officials explained. By matching the weight of the original metal propeller, the composite design avoids the center-of-gravity issues common with wooden replacements, while delivering superior vibration damping and highly durable, repairable blades, company officials added.
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