ORIGINAL: Fastsky
I have read that if a plane crashes nose down, the plastic spinners have absorbed a lot of the energy usually destoying it self in the process but preventing a lot of plane and engine damage. Planes that have has aluminum spinners on them when the plane noses in have suffered more damage and in some cases the engine has been severly damaged. Cost wise I don't see any advantages to getting an aluminum spinner. If a scratch here or there bothers you, then maybe you would prefer static planes that look great but never fly. Thats ok too but limits your fun imo. [8D]
I really can't buy this, There is no way to compare how serious each individual crash was or what effect the spinner had on survivability. I have seen aluminum spinner crashes at my field, full power nose dive, Yes the plane was heavily damaged but the engine was fine and flew again a few days later.
I can say that the aluminum spinner I have on my Kadet has no scratches on it after over 70 flights and the plastic spinner on my P-51 is scratched up pretty good after the first flight.