RCU Forums - View Single Post - Prop selection AND effects
View Single Post
Old 02-15-2007 | 08:39 AM
  #2  
SoCalSal
My Feedback: (16)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From: spring valley , CA
Default RE: Prop selection AND effects

[quote]ORIGINAL: bonedaddy41

Everybody you talk to has an opinion regarding what prop (size, pitch and manufacturer) is best on a particular engine. Some people will even have enough knowledge to tell you that one prop may work great on plane A but not as well on plane B depending on your flying style. Those opinions are always useful to get a starting point. The big problem most of us have is the price of props. It is just too expensive to play with different props to see if one is better than the other. However, I have run across something that I can't explain. I have a BMEAircraft 27% Pitts Challenger that I have been flying for about a year with an Evolution 58GX. I have 'played' with as many props as I could afford and I have seen some major differences I would like somebody to explain to me.

The NX 24x8 wood prop seems to fit my setup perfectly. The plane has more than enough power to do short takeoffs, will slow down and become very docile and smooth for landings, has unlimited veritical, and will twist, turn and tumble with the best biplane available. BUT - if I switch to a 24x10, the plane becomes a different monster. It is twitchy, won't maintain level flight (always dropping or climbing), remains twitchy even when slowed down ... and is just a nasty plane to fly. I have tried multiple 24x10s (NX, TBM, Evolution, Biela) and multiple 24x8s (NX, TBM, PT, Biela) and I see the same flight characteristics with all of the 24x10s ... so it is not just one prop or one manufacturer

Now I understand that the 10" pitch is wanting the plane to fly faster than the 8" pitch does at the same rpm. But I can see/feel this "nastiness" throughout the rpm range. How does the pitch difference effect the plane SOOO much?

Honestly, if I had to fly this plane on a 24x10, I'd get rid of it ... but on the 24x8 it is my favorite sky ripper. I wonder how many people have gotten rid of a plane because it handled terrible .. and they only needed a different prop?
[/quot


Hi. I have been thinking the same thing. The props for my plane can run from about $65- 105 each so I can't have one of every pitch rang in my flight box.
But I found this adjustable pitch prop hub and as soon as they get the hub made for my engin I all over it. Take a look and see what you think.

http://www.soloprops.com/