APC Props
 

What is the difference between an APC Pattern, and APC Sport prop, and the "W" APC prop?

Thanks,

Jim

____________________________________

Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.

RE: APC Props
 

I think it is primarily marketing. I have never seen a "Sport" prop and a "Pattern" prop in the same size.

I have both of the following at home:
LP13080 13X8 Sport-Props $ 4.89
LP13090 13X9 60 PATTERN $ 7.95
I copied the above from the APC web site.

Other than the price I'm not sure there is any difference in the props other than the pitch. I cannot say there is no other difference but the blade shape, tip shape, etc looks the same when I hold them side by side. I do not have the equipment or skills required to do a scientific comparison.

RE: APC Props
 

The "W" props have a wider blade. I'm not sure the advantages of this, but I do like the 18x8W on the Moki 180 for fun-fly planes.

RE: APC Props
 

That's true but most of them are marketed as "3D Fun Fly" rather than "Sport" or "Pattern"

I've had 13x4 "Sport" and 13x4W "3D Fun Fly" and there are obvious visible differences. AND the 13x4W costs about twice as much as the 13x4.

There's also the xxxx and the xxxxN (narrow blade) that are visibly different.

They don't have a 13x9 "Sport" and a 13x9 "Pattern" with one costing the same as the 13x8 and the other being twice as much.




The "W" props put more load on the engine. They also seem to produce more thrust.

RE: APC Props
 

I think the wide blades are primarily for the lower pitched props, like the 4 inch pitch props. Low pitch props tend to "slip" a bunch, so the wide blade might allow the prop to get a better "bite" on the air. They are primarily used for 3D stuff.

RE: APC Props
 

the difference is in the airfoil of the blade. the blade are like the wing of the plane. thrust is generated by the front of blade as it is pulled though the air. the wide blade takes a bigger bite out of the air just like a trainer wing creates more lift that a sport model. The difference in the sport and pattern props are subtle but the airfoil is slightly different. a pattern prop is designed for a certain specific speed range while a sport prop is designed for a wider speed range. To someone starting out they would even feel the difference