Tractor vs. Pusher  
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Tractor vs. Pusher - 2/10/2008 7:07:46 PM   
kerklein2


 

Posts: 84
Joined: 7/30/2003
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I've done a little reading on the issue, and it seems opinions vary. I would like to get more opinions on the subject. Advantages and disadvantages of each. I ask because I am currently designing a flying wing aircraft with a focus on long duration. Most flying wings seem to have a pusher, but the advantages of a tractor might be better suited to long duration. I am also worried about noise and I have read a pusher can be louder because of the turbulent flow entering the prop. The wingspan of the aircraft will be around 80inches and will be running a gas engine.
       Post #: 1

RE: Tractor vs. Pusher - 2/10/2008 7:16:53 PM   
crasherboy


 

Posts: 103
Joined: 10/21/2006
From: Bryant Pond, ME, USA
Status: offline 		IMHO,yes I would think that a tractor setup would be more efficient, due to the reasons you stated. Up front in clean air.

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RE: Tractor vs. Pusher - 2/10/2008 7:49:55 PM   
Mike Connor



Posts: 1359
Joined: 1/10/2002
From: Tulsa, OK, USA
Status: offline 		Selection of pusher props is limited

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RE: Tractor vs. Pusher - 2/11/2008 1:26:18 AM   
B.L.E.


 

Posts: 1292
Joined: 8/27/2005
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Pushers are a lot louder than tractors, something that is really evident when you fly electrics. If you really want loud, counterrotating tandam props on coaxial shafts can't be beat.

(in reply to Mike Connor)
       Post #: 4

RE: Tractor vs. Pusher - 2/11/2008 2:14:20 AM   
BMatthews



Posts: 8850
Joined: 10/4/2002
From: Burnaby, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		There's probably a very good reason that the solar powered high altitude project aircraft went with forward mounted props. They don't have much power to work with and they would have chosen for efficiency over other factors. Mind you this doesn't tell you why.

Your mention of a gas engine makes me wonder which engine you're talking about. Gas generally implies the larger displacements. And at 80 inches this is not a large model at all for anything of that size where duration is an issue. Now if you're talking about something like a .35 glow engine converted to spark and want to fly a 6 lb 80 inch flying wing then that's a differnet story. But even then you'll be adequitely powered rather than fighting for climb.


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Proudly wasting balsa since 1965.

Free Flighters go that extra mile........

(in reply to B.L.E.)
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RE: Tractor vs. Pusher - 2/11/2008 4:28:33 AM   
kerklein2


 

Posts: 84
Joined: 7/30/2003
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I don't really want to go in to specifics of exactly what I'm doing, but the confirmation that pushers are louder and less efficient pretty much answers my questions.

(in reply to BMatthews)
       Post #: 6

RE: Tractor vs. Pusher - 2/12/2008 10:51:13 PM   
iron eagel



Posts: 1197
Joined: 7/15/2004
From: Middleboro, MA, USA
Status: offline 		One thing you might want to keep in mind that one of the most efficient prop driven aircraft was the Northrup XB-35. A flying wing using pusher props, if they had been able to get the counter rotating prop setup working it would have been even more impressive.
Although the most important factor was probably low drag of the design.

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< Message edited by iron eagel -- 2/12/2008 10:54:10 PM >

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