Thinking about an mt prop. I know there has been some criticism in the past. Has anyone got some updated opinions?

You will get some neigh sayers...

Best prop I have ever owned. Best customer service. Im not a salesmen for them but sure feel like one.

AKT

+1. I have been more than pleased with mine.

I got a quote last summer for a 2-blade for my C180, and it was about $13K plus crating & shipping.
I'm sure they're the right stuff but that's above my pay grade.
I ended up buying a run-out 88" C201 Mac and having it OH'd (including being modified to the newer style oil-filled hub), for a total investment of about $5300-- so about 40% of the cost of a new MT & performs great.

Satisfied MT customer here.

We too (dad and I) are also very satisfied MT customers. Super smooth and pulls good.

There is however the issue of some unsightly cosmetic blisters on the back (the forward facing shiny side) of one of the blades. This unfortunately is somewhat common. There is a fix involving some 5 minute epoxy but the finish will never be as perfect as it was out of the box. But then how many propellers stay perfect looking after being out in the world anyways?

I'll resist the urge to offer unsolicited opinions about other propeller brands.

Very happy customer here.
It changed the plane a lot.
Love the braking power when full pitch and idle, makes steep descends a lot easier.
At 16 pounds lighter also quicker throttle response, quiet and smooth.

So far so good on my new MT prop.

Compared to my 88" 3 blade black Mac, this MT prop does not brake when the power comes off, which I prefer. I felt like my power off glide was compromised too much with the Mac.

hotrod180 wrote:I got a quote last summer for a 2-blade for my C180, and it was about $13K plus crating & shipping.
I'm sure they're the right stuff but that's above my pay grade.
I ended up buying a run-out 88" C201 Mac and having it OH'd (including being modified to the newer style oil-filled hub), for a total investment of about $5300-- so about 40% of the cost of a new MT & performs great.

Yes its expensive, but not sure how your comment answers his question as there is no comparison between the 88" and the MT. I have 350+ hrs now behind the MT and would do it again in a heartbeat.

The "critiques" you'll sometimes hear of the MT props almost without fail come from people who've never actually operated an MT prop, nor do they have any direct experience observing MT props in the real world. It's always "I have a buddy who" or "I heard that a guy in Upper Bumfuck had a prop delaminate", etc. It's pretty hard to actually find someone who's had a bad experience with MT props. I'm sure they are out there, but as others have noted, their customer support is excellent. Flight Resource is owned by two real gentlemen, one of whom posts on this forum occasionally...both of these guys, John and Larry are class acts, and will stand behind the propellers 100 %.

So, let's look at some of the alleged "beefs":

"Oh, wow, if you get a prop strike, those props will splinter and you'll be stuck wherever that happens." Yep, that's probably true. I can also introduce you to a gent who had a prop strike with a metal prop, and kinda torqued it back into shape....sorta, and flew it part way home. The metal prop shed a tip due to the stresses involved in the strike and the "reshaping". Fortunately, he didn't wreck the plane in the ensuing landing, but.... So, yes, this is true. And, one of the MT props I flew regularly was subjected to this very issue, except the plane wound up on its back so neither the prop nor the plane were very useable. The good news was that, because the prop splintered instead of just bending, the engine teardown revealed no problems whatever. A metal prop bent that bad MAY have torqued internal engine parts. If you think props are expensive, try replacing a crankshaft.

"Those props get dings on them, and at least with a metal prop you can file out the dings." Yep, in fact, over a period of time, you can file one of those metal props right down to toothpick shape and size, at which point, you're buying a new set of blades. Furthermore, at any time in there, one of those dings you get on a metal prop MAY well propagate into a crack, which destroys the blade. The good news about the MT props is that the leading edge is covered with a stainless steel sheath. Tough? Very tough. Much tougher in fact than ANY aluminum blade leading edge. And the leading edge is where most of the damage occurs on props. If that stainless LE gets ugly enough, you can send the MT prop in and have a new LE installed.....and you've now got a virtually new prop. The aluminum prop....every time you run some water/sand/rocks/grass through that prop, you're going to file some of that precious metal off those blades.

Dings on the face of the prop (the part that points aft)? Use a little epoxy like Marine Tex or such to seal them up. Done. Simple. I know of at least one outfit in northern AK running composite props on Beech 1900s running on gravel airstrips. Think about that. Chief of Maintenance says the composite props are wonderful. Rock dings are a non issue. Those are PT-6s throwing rocks, folks.....

"The MT props have no inertia, so they're hard on starters." Holy shit, folks! Cessna starters have had issues for decades. A lightweight prop doesn't make those issues better or worse. If you have a POS starter, replace it with a good one....they're out there.

Yes, these props are expensive. They are light, they pull like a tug boat, and the customer service is outstanding. What's not to like?

MTV

mtv wrote:The "critiques" you'll sometimes hear of the MT props almost without fail come from people who've never actually operated an MT prop, nor do they have any direct experience observing MT props in the real world. It's always "I have a buddy who" or "I heard that a guy in Upper Bumfuck had a prop delaminate", etc. It's pretty hard to actually find someone who's had a bad experience with MT props. I'm sure they are out there, but as others have noted, their customer support is excellent. Flight Resource is owned by two real gentlemen, one of whom posts on this forum occasionally...both of these guys, John and Larry are class acts, and will stand behind the propellers 100 %.

So, let's look at some of the alleged "beefs":

"Oh, wow, if you get a prop strike, those props will splinter and you'll be stuck wherever that happens." Yep, that's probably true. I can also introduce you to a gent who had a prop strike with a metal prop, and kinda torqued it back into shape....sorta, and flew it part way home. The metal prop shed a tip due to the stresses involved in the strike and the "reshaping". Fortunately, he didn't wreck the plane in the ensuing landing, but.... So, yes, this is true. And, one of the MT props I flew regularly was subjected to this very issue, except the plane wound up on its back so neither the prop nor the plane were very useable. The good news was that, because the prop splintered instead of just bending, the engine teardown revealed no problems whatever. A metal prop bent that bad MAY have torqued internal engine parts. If you think props are expensive, try replacing a crankshaft.

"Those props get dings on them, and at least with a metal prop you can file out the dings." Yep, in fact, over a period of time, you can file one of those metal props right down to toothpick shape and size, at which point, you're buying a new set of blades. Furthermore, at any time in there, one of those dings you get on a metal prop MAY well propagate into a crack, which destroys the blade. The good news about the MT props is that the leading edge is covered with a stainless steel sheath. Tough? Very tough. Much tougher in fact than ANY aluminum blade leading edge. And the leading edge is where most of the damage occurs on props. If that stainless LE gets ugly enough, you can send the MT prop in and have a new LE installed.....and you've now got a virtually new prop. The aluminum prop....every time you run some water/sand/rocks/grass through that prop, you're going to file some of that precious metal off those blades.

Dings on the face of the prop (the part that points aft)? Use a little epoxy like Marine Tex or such to seal them up. Done. Simple. I know of at least one outfit in northern AK running composite props on Beech 1900s running on gravel airstrips. Think about that. Chief of Maintenance says the composite props are wonderful. Rock dings are a non issue. Those are PT-6s throwing rocks, folks.....

"The MT props have no inertia, so they're hard on starters." Holy shit, folks! Cessna starters have had issues for decades. A lightweight prop doesn't make those issues better or worse. If you have a POS starter, replace it with a good one....they're out there.

Yes, these props are expensive. They are light, they pull like a tug boat, and the customer service is outstanding. What's not to like?

MTV

Come on now, tell us how you really feel, by reading this I think you like them??

I've one that is just about 6 years old. It's never spent a night outside but in an unheated hangar in Iowa where it can be very dry,humid,cold,and hot. So far no blisters but have seen pic's of blisters on another. I like mine a lot.

I agree with everything MTV said above. The MT is the best prop I have ever owned or operated.

Just test flew my new MT about an hour ago. Wow. Smoothed out my old continental through all RPMs. Picked up some speed, lighter, quieter... Can't wait to get out and fly it for real. Most pleased with the smoothness. This is on a 1956 182:

Squash wrote:So far so good on my new MT prop.

Compared to my 88" 3 blade black Mac, this MT prop does not brake when the power comes off, which I prefer. I felt like my power off glide was compromised too much with the Mac.

I actually forgot that I run a MT prop on the Husky as well. That prop is doing fine and I haven't had an issue yet. Maybe I forgot about it because it's 7 years old.

For those of you running MT's, try over square power settings. The MT really shines in low RPM cruise. I run 1,800-1,900 RPM and 22-25 inches of manifold pressure in my Husky, works with both 2 and 3 blade, silky turbine smooth with great mpg. In a 180/182/185 I would try 2,000-2,100 RPM and 24 inches of MP to start. Make sure you lean, you will be amazed at your miles per gallon. Your speed will drop a few mph but your mpg will increase. If it feels rough give it a few minutes, most are not used to these lower RPM power settings and it may seem like there is more shaking but in reality, it is just a different feel you may not be used to, however, it may be a bit rougher but that is rare. As smooth as an MT feels, make sure you have if dynamically balanced. I burn 5.5 to 6.5 gph at 105-110mph in my Husky (0-360, 180hp 3 blade MT 8:50 tires) at these power settings. Amazing!

Kurt

My 1956 O-470 L says to reduce power to 23" after takeoff, but I hear about folks running 24" all the time. Is that OK, or is that for certain model engines?

I've flown behind a few and really dig them. I'm pretty easy to please though, and that whirring sound really warms my innards.

Squash says above that there is no braking effect as opposed to the Black Mac, but perhaps what he meant was that it's not as pronounced, because compared to an aluminum prop, there is definitely an instant response in thrust and airspeed. It's not a brake per se, but there is much less rotational inertia so it slows quickly and it feels like an airbrake. It's something you get used to in your approaches.

I've also noticed increased... what's the word? RPM hunting? But that is likely more the governor in the aircraft I flew.

Am I a shill? Yes. Flight Resource supports BCP. But it's also what I'm putting on my Bearhawk.

I love my MT.
350-/+ hours on it so far.
Took 25 lbs. off the pointy end when I switched from the Hartzell. I have had no cosmetic issues so far.
My MT also would 'RPM surge' a bit when dialed up to 2700 RPM. We did a pull test and found that it had more thrust at 2650 and setting it there eliminated the surge. I also run over squared - 23" MP / 2150 RPM for cruise and see 8.5 gph and 115 mph with 31" bushwheels on my 170.
I REALLLY LOVE MY MT.

Greg, that's an awesome fuel burn. Very cool