Replaceable ceramic blade insert

A sheath for protecting a propeller blade of a propeller system, the propeller blade having a normal bending moment, the sheath comprising:

• a) a first protection means comprising a ductile metal, attached to a leading edge of the propeller blade, for protecting said leading edge from erosion, said first protection means forming an aerodynamic profile for the propeller blade;
• b) a second protection means comprising a ceramic material, wherein said ceramic material is releasably attached by an adhesive material to a portion of said first protection means along a tip end of the leading edge of the propeller blade for providing increased erosion protection for said tip end, wherein said adhesive material isolates said second protection means from the normal bending moment of the propeller blade.

A sheath for protecting a leading edge of a propeller blade, of a propeller system, the propeller blade having a normal bending moment, the sheath comprising:

• a) a first protection means comprising a ductile metal attached to the leading edge of the propeller blade for protecting the leading edge from erosion, wherein said first protection means has an aerodynamic profile, and wherein said first protection means has an opening exposing an underlying blade material at a tip end of the propeller blade;
• and,
• b) a second protection means comprising a ceramic material, wherein said second material is releasably attached by an adhesive material to the underlying blade material, wherein said second protection means forms a continuation of said aerodynamic profile of said first protection means and wherein said adhesive material isolates said second protection means from the normal bending moment of the propeller blade.