A lifelong aviation enthusiast who joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in 2007, Curt came to&nbsp;the publication&nbsp;from the broadcast industry where he was a national science and technology television reporter and producer. He writes on the FBO field, aviation finance, and sustainable aviation and occasionally contributes to&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;sister publication&nbsp;Business Jet Traveler. Curt was a member of the AINtv reporting staff that won the 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year award for Best Airshow Daily. That same year, he was a finalist for another AJOYA award. He earned an AJOYA for Best Business Aviation Submission in 2018 and was a finalist in that category in 2021. He received the National Air Transportation Association’s&nbsp; Aviation Journalist Award in 2012 and won a Pegasus Sapphire Business Aviation Award for outstanding journalism in 2021.
Before joining AIN, Curt worked with&nbsp;Consumer Reports’ television division, CRTV, and for several local television news staffs. An honors graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University in 1995. Curt lives in New York State with his wife and two young sons.

Senior Editor

Curt Epstein

Washington State-based aftermarket performance upgrade provider BLR Aerospace is celebrating a milestone for the five-blade "Whisper Prop" propeller, which was recently installed on a Beechcraft King Air 200, along with the company’s winglet system. The Whisper Prop system delivered to owner Andrew Birrell was the 20,000 constant-speed propeller built by German manufacturer MT-Propeller. More than 2,000 of units delivered thus far have been for five-blade turboprops.

 


“We congratulate Andrew on his upgraded aircraft and MT-Propeller on this impressive milestone,” said BLR president Mike Carpenter. “The combination of winglets and Whisper Prop is delivering powerful performance improvements to customers worldwide.”

 


Available for the King Air 90, 200 and 300 series, the Whisper Prop is a carbon-fiber propeller with a natural composite core that reduces vibration and provides&nbsp;up to 50 percent reduction in noise compared with standard King Air 200 propellers. “The Whisper Props have been a revelation to me,” Birrell said, noting improved takeoff acceleration, climb performance and cruise speed.

 


When installed in conjunction with BLR’s winglets, the system delivers runway length reductions up to 33 percent and significant gains in useful load, according to the company. Other benefits include a time between overhaul (TBO) of 3,600 hours and six years, with unlimited blade life.

 


BLR (Booth C10225) also announced it has added four new dealers to its network for fixed-wing upgrades, including AMK Aviation of Ontario, Canada; Rose Aircraft Services in Mena, Arkansas; Tiffin Aire of Tiffin, Ohio; and Upper Valley Aviation in Canada’s British Columbia. Carpenter welcomed the new members, adding, “With more than 40 dealers worldwide, we have strong global coverage for customers everywhere.”

 


Among its latest customers is Southwest Specialty Foods, whose King Air 90 just received the BLR winglet and Whisper Prop systems, along with an eye-catching new red and yellow paint scheme from Rose Aircraft Services.

 


“This upgrade was the best decision I’ve made,” said Jeff Jacobs, president and CEO of the food purveyor. “My time to altitude has been reduced by 25 percent and the quietness is just unbelievable.”

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

BLR Celebrates Whisper Prop Milestone

Supplier MT-Propeller's 20,000th constant speed unit was installed as part of the company's Whisper Prop system.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Approval process took four years and established the European agency's special condition

EASA Certifies Safran's 125-Kilowatt EngineUs 100 Electric Motor

Hanneke Weitering

ZeroAvia received a G-1 issue paper for the electric propulsion system

FAA Approves ZeroAvia’s Certification Basis for Electric Propulsion System

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Results of ARPA-e program showed 35% more efficiency and nearly elimination of nitrogen oxides

Pratt & Whitney Hydrogen Engine Project Shows Promise of Steam Injection

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

SiCore cells offer rapid energy delivery without compromising on endurance

Amprius Says 'SiCore' Batteries Will Boost eVTOL Aircraft Performance

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

European approval follows Transport Canada and FAA nods in July 2024

EASA OKs PW545D Turbofan for Cessna Citation Ascend

AmyWilder

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

NBAA-BACE 2017

More In Engines

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Approval process took four years and established the European agency's special condition

FAA Approves ZeroAvia’s Certification Basis for Electric Propulsion System

ZeroAvia received a G-1 issue paper for the electric propulsion system

Pratt & Whitney Hydrogen Engine Project Shows Promise of Steam Injection

Results of ARPA-e program showed 35% more efficiency and nearly elimination of nitrogen oxides

Amprius Says 'SiCore' Batteries Will Boost eVTOL Aircraft Performance

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EASA OKs PW545D Turbofan for Cessna Citation Ascend

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PBS Velka Bites Celebrates 1,500th APU Produced

APU provides power options for helicopter and airplanes

Airbus Taps BAE For Micro-Hybridization Energy Storage

Concept involves "supporting role" for batteries during some operational phases

Hermeus Brings the HEAT with Hypersonic Test Facility

Location incorporates upgraded former NAS equipment at Cecil Airport

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