ORIGINAL: TimBle
ORIGINAL: Tired Old Man
However, some of the better props are made from carbon fiber, which should also be classified as a plastic propeller since it's laminated with specialized epoxies.
Hard plastic props do transfer more of a shock/impact load to the airframe during a propeller strike. One has to decide if they can land with the precision required to avoid prop strikes. If a person is unsure of that ability they should use wood propellers that transfer less of a shock load to an airframe during a prop strike.
Hub drilling raises other factors when plastic propellers are used. One must be absolutely certain that any plastic prop that will be drilled for a multi bolt installation has propeller hub integrity sufficient to handle the additional outer mounting holes. Some brands of plastic propellers will not safely tolerate this modification and have been noted to shed propeller blades after drilling new mounting holes. Always consult with the manufacturer when in doubt.
correct but also if they are unable to land with the precision necessary to avoid prop strikes maybe they not ready for the larger planes and engines just yet...?
No arguement from me on that score. The reason most people stay with low budget (cheap) plastic props that don't perform well is because they break a lot of props during "landings". If they are in that group the really aren't ready for a gas engine yet, Most glow engines will handle frequent prop strikes better because they don't have bearing similar to gassers. Small needle bearings take a beating over the course of a lot of prop strikes and eventually fail. Cranks bend and need replaced or straightened.
A gas engine will not make a bad flyer better. Only practice and skill does that.