From the Log Book
A Trip to Piqua, Ohio (I17) to Visit the Hartzel Prop Shop
We usually sit around the coffee table every morning at the airport and recount our latest flight to somewhere more exciting today than it was the day we actually took the trip. On one recent morning I was asked, “Why don’t you write about some of the trips you take instead of old, dull flight instruction and aviation safety?” That got me thinking about my latest trip to Piqua, Ohio, visiting the Hartzell Prop Shop.
I have always been impressed with this company’s professionalism so I asked them if I could write about their products. After a long pause they agreed to let me tell you the background of their firm and its history that began way back in 1875. You can personally learn about Hartzell on a visit, through CDs, DVDs, and brochures, and facility tours are also available, all FREE for the asking. They care about you and the equipment you are flying and are committed to quality and service.
Sometimes the hardest thing a writer does is research. We want to get the facts straight so that we have an article we are proud of and one that is interesting and informative for our readers. I think this is the first time that I have been offered so much information that I could have just sorted through the brochures and come up with a great article without a lot of digging myself. I found that their research was more complete than any other I could find.
My visit is kinda sorta a regular thing since I fly for a Mitsubishi Recurrency School and we use Hartzell Props on all of the airplanes. It is always a pleasant trip since you feel you are stepping back in time when you visit this area. Hidden in the middle of cornfields and small towns are some admirably dedicated repairmen who work on the heartbeat of almost every flying machine known to man. Visiting an international organization of this magnitude and one that has made so many contributions to the aviation industry in research and development, design, manufacturing, service and product support is a pleasure, especially for those of us who make a living flying and spend all our waking moments trying to improve an aviation safety record that worldwide is deemed second to none.
What began in 1875 with John T. Hartzell opening a sawmill in Greenville, Ohio, for the cutting of general hardwoods, evolved (after a move to Piqua in 1900) into the manufacture of aircraft propellers in 1917. Many noteworthy aviation contributions followed, including building the props for the 1917 J-4 Jenny, designing props for Airships in 1930, the first reversible prop in 1946, the first full-feathering props in 1952, and the first five-blade prop for the SHORTS in 1975. In 1986 Voyager circumnavigated the globe with Hartzell propellers and set three Absolute World Records that still stand today, and this year Hartzell delivered its 15,000th Top Prop Performance Conversion propeller system.
To list all that they have accomplished since they opened in the 1800s would take up more space than this article is allowed. If you are interested in finding out more about the company’s history and what it has done to improve the way your particular airplane flies or would like a personal tour or just a brochure showing them at work, take a look at www.HartzellProp.com or give them a call at 1-800-942-7767.
I looked hard at this company to make sure that in my opinion they had indeed lived up to their chosen motto of “Built On Honor” and I could not find a flaw. The design of every aspect of the company is built around doing what is needed to get the customer back in the air and performing at the top end of their aircraft’s capability. You just don’t stay in a business as demanding as this without doing exactly what you promise. I appreciate the time they gave to me as I poked around and asked a zillion questions. The paperwork and handouts they furnished me back up all the claims, and as I cruise around at about 300 knots, I sincerely appreciate the workmanship of their labor.
I see on the duty board that I am scheduled for a trip next week to Piqua and when I get there I’ll tell them that you are interested in their products and services. Please let me know how the visit went and be sure and tell them what they can add to make it even more educational and informative for you and your crew.
By Jim Trusty