I've flown with APC, Top Flite, and Master Airscrew (Nylon) props to date. I didn't like the Master Airscrew prop at all, it didn't seem to provide as much thrust as the others (all 10x6 sized). In terms of performance, it seemed that the Top Flite wood prop seemed to produce the most thrust (maybe because it's light), but was quite fragile, especially working in conjunction with a trainer. The APC seems like the best of both worlds, good performance, while being very durable. I'm going to try a Zinger wood prop next. I've found that unless I crash I can use a wood prop for a while with a tail dragger.

So what type of prop do you prefer?

It probably has many answers depending on the type of flying preferences one may have. I do alot of low and slow stuff and have bonded with the wooden variety of props. They give me a nice throttle curve and a quick spool up time. When I'm in a groovy pattern type of mood I like the heavier props like the APC etc. They also tend to give the engine better low end and idle characteristics because of the flywheel affect. Take care_Bob

Master Airscrew offers a nylon prop called the Scimitar
it has almost the sime undercamber than APC' at half the weight which is important in small engines. Some sizes they have a wood scimitar that i haven't tried.
I prefer to use MA Scimitar series on engines up to .61 cu in (no need to fit the spinners too!!)
On engines above .61 cu in I do prefer APC's
Regards,
Patrick

for learning to fly the master airscrew props are great, and for sport flying apc props, and for aerobatics zinger wood props

I started with Master Airscrew props and on day while I was flying one of the IMAC guys hollerd out and said my prop was depitching when I throttled up.

I switched to APC and it was like bolting on a bigger motor. The engine had a lot more thrust, maybe I just hit on a combination but I have flown APC ever since.

DEG

I was breaking in my OS Max .61FX and I could see the APC Nylon prop flex. It was strange to see! I just bought some wood ones to see the difference. (will find out shortly) Seems like the flexing would loose pitch at high RPM's

Any insight on this?

It seems that every engine - airplane combination has it's own preference of propeller, you just have to find it. I have used most brands of props on the market, each has it's good and bad qualities, in my opinion.
Black Master Airscrew - very strong, excellent trainer prop and good on four strokes up to .91.
MA Scimatar - good power and fairly strong.
APC - gobs of power on most engines up to .46, but fragile. Wood - good looks, good power, but even more fragile. (my preference for most larger engines 120+)

Sometimes a little flex in a propeller is just what I'm looking for, especially in the profile and hang on the prop arena. It's sort of like a stall converter in your car, or running in second gear to get around a certain obstacle. The difference between climbing out of or stayin in a hover is a hundred rpm or a little flex sometimes. The bigger engines may not follow the same rules. On my Aeroworks Freedom I run a Moki 1.35 and like a wooden prop

New favorite prop for my TT Pro 46! A Zinger 11x5 woody, it makes more thrust than an APC 11x6! I had enough power to hang the prop on my 6 lb sport plane, and was able to pull vertical (even if it was slowly) out of it. Plane did seem slower on the top end, when compared to the APC...

By far my preference, if the budget is there, are carbon fibre props such as Bolly. The rigidity makes SO much more thrust in varied situations, and acts as an airbrake when you're being silly and doing high-throttle dives or downlines.

Next in line for me is APC for lower noise level and good performance esp at higher speeds.

Sincerely,
Mrs. AnnMarie Cross
Senior Manager, Proprietary Service and Support
Great Planes Model Distributors
[email protected]
www.greatplanes.com
www.bestrc.com

I now used onle the APC on the funfly type plane that I own and all my pattern plane are geting MEJZLIK prop, made in Carbon fiber, they don't require extensive balancing like the Bolly one....

Daniel D.

I have never seen a blade fly off of a wood prop. I have seen this happen on a plastic one. Scared the daylights out of me.

I seem to get better performance from the wood props than I do with plastic. Used to use Top Flite, but their wood quality went down a little, or so it seemed. Been using Zingers' for about 5 years now.
Silversurfer

I have a O.S. Max .46 FX on a trainer that works really well with a Master Airscrew 10 X 7. The take roll is alot shorter and instant power is there. Balance is also very important. I am a beginer so any thoughts on this configuration would helpful too.

Depending on what trainer you have, an APC 11x5 prop will make your plane leap off the ground. With a TT Pro 46 on my Avistar, the plane is airborne within 15 feet or so... Whack the throttle, pull hard up elevator at around 13 feet, and go vertical until the plane is a dot in the sky.

Keep doing eBay, etc and maintaining the stock up for Rev-Up and old Top-Flight (pre Great *Pains*) props for .90 and down. Other than that I prefer wood props, and that is mostly MA or Zinger. Have a dislike for zinger as way back when I was a pylon person (Q-500 / Sport / 1/4 midget) I could never carve a zinger to really go like a rev-up.

Graupner make a fine durable THRUSTworthy prop. All sizes.
But, what I have noticed is that you want 2 different things.
Speed and Thrust.
You can find the optimum by trial and error or Just do what I do.
Buy 2 of everything ..... and save the one you did'nt wreck for later trades.
Larry

I use Master Airscrew when I'm flying a new plane since they are more durable. Then I set it aside and stick an APC prop on. You can definately tell a difference in performance! But, they break if you hit them on the ground. Matt

I agree with Tialar, Graupner is my choice on all of my 4 strokes. They pull better than anything I've used.