I just wanted to say a few words about the new Biela propellors available from Aircraft International.

I first saw the Biela's last year at Joe Nall, and bought a 27-10 for my 33% Composite-Arf Extra which had a BME102/canister setup for power at that time. I had been using an AM 28-10 2-blade or Menz 27-10, and turning in the 6300-6400 rpm range with either prop. The Biela 27-10 turned right in the same range, but in flight it was the best of the 3 props. It was smoother on transition and during aerobatics than even the Menz, and exhibited none of the "fidgety" characteristics of the light loaded AM28-10. I called it, then, the best of both worlds, with smooth transition from low-high thrust from the prop as it turned up, yet enough drag on the engine to help hold down borderline prop rip as well as very good downline braking.

Fast forward a year and I'm running both the 28-10 and 29-10 Biela's on my BME110 w/canisters, and just bought a 30-12 THREE blade (HUGE prop) for my 3W TOC150 w/canisters. I've been a diehard believer in the Mejzlik CF props for about 5 years now, and thought no prop could outperform them for Pattern and Sequence type flying. I was wrong. With every Biela I now use the planes are smoother, have a lot less noise in the air, have superior downline braking, and about equal vertical performance, all while turning about 400-500 rpm slower than a similarly sized Mejzlik, and without all the prop moan and rip associated with a Menz-s of the same size.

At the Mocksville (SE District) IMAC contest this weekend the prop performed very well, being substantially quieter in the air than almost every prop at the Meet, but still hauling my 39.5 lbs (Dry) Composite-Arf 40% Extra around VERY well, helping it to fly a lot smoother than it was with the AM 30-12 3-blade I used to use, and making the plane make ME look good.

Current RPM figures on the 3W150 are in the 5300-5400 range and it dB's at about 92 dB or so under IMAC testing procedures. On the BME110 powered plane, the 2-blade 29-10 Biela turns right at 6100 rpm and dB's in the 90-91 dB range, and the 28-10 turns about 6450-6500 and dB's at about 93dB. Construction of the Biela is a "painted in the mold" Carbon fiber layup with hollow blades with the CF laminated over a hardwood hub. The blades are a BEAUTIFUL white with red striped tips, and the spinning prop is a thing of beauty as the plane is taxiing or flying slowly by. It looks VERY scale, and if the plane has a lot of red and white in the color scheme, it's a very nice match.

Most people with 150's will want to use a 29-12 3-blade to let the engine unload a bit, but if your engine has some conjones, the 30-12 3-blade might be the ticket. 3-blade sizes for most 100-110 engines will be either the 25-12 or 26-12, and the 27-10 or 28-10 two blade is a good match for most 100 class engines.

For instant get-up-and-go, the Mejzlik is superior, without a doubt. But the overall compromise necessary to fly IMAC and pattern-style precision aerobatics dictates more than just brutal acceleration and vertical performance. I consider the Biela propellors to be superior in this category.

For more information please contact Gerhard at Aircraft International. I have little doubt that others will find these propellors to be exactly what I've said they are. . smooth, beautiful, quieter than most others, and a good match for precision style flying.