Hartzell and Dovetail Electric Aviation collaborate to power the future of zero emission regional flight

Hartzell Propeller, a global leader in advanced aircraft propeller systems for over a century, has entered into a collaboration with Dovetail Electric Aviation, a pioneer in battery-electric and hydrogen-electric propulsion systems for regional aircraft. Together, the two companies are working to integrate Hartzell’s propellers and Pitch Control Unit (PCU) into Dovetail’s proprietary Electric Propulsion System (EPS), known as DovePower.

The partnership combines Hartzell’s long legacy of innovation and certification in propeller technology with Dovetail’s cutting-edge development of zero-emission propulsion solutions. The goal is to deliver high-performance, certifiable systems tailored to CS-23 category aircraft requiring over 500 kW of power—including Dovetail’s first full electric conversion of the Cessna Caravan.

Hartzell’s propeller and PCU are set to become a core component of DovePower, enabling precise thrust and control for high-powered electric aircraft. Dovetail has already conducted successful standalone testing of its electric propulsion system. Integrated tests with Hartzell’s components are scheduled for the second half of 2025.

The joint system will power Dovetail’s first electric Caravan prototype, which will be tested as a fully integrated platform in Spain under the Science and Innovation Missions Program, a major aerospace R&D initiative led by CDTI and supported by NextGenerationEU funds.

“This partnership is bringing the reputation and capability of a traditional aviation leader like Hartzell into the new frontier of electric aviation,” said David Doral, CEO of Dovetail Electric Aviation. “For Dovetail’s mission to make regional air travel sustainable and eventually fully electric, the support from key aircraft technology players like Hartzell represents a big boost—and a guarantee of success in this endeavor.”

“Hartzell is proud to partner with Dovetail to shape the future of electric flight,” said Hartzell Propeller President JJ Frigge. “By combining our expertise in high-performance propeller systems and lightweight, carbon fiber composite propellers with Dovetail’s groundbreaking propulsion technologies, we’re helping to redefine what’s possible in regional aviation without compromising performance or safety.”

This collaboration underscores the growing momentum behind electrification in regional aviation and highlights the importance of close integration between established OEMs and new players in building the next generation of clean, certifiable propulsion technologies.