I am getting a little tired of buying props every time I go out to fly.What prop is the one of choice to keep from breaking so easily.I don't really want to put a skid or landing gear on.Is there a prop that is a little more flexible than others?




Kramers Combat Spads

It seems to me that APC's, and MA's break just as easily. The only thing I could say to help you is on your prop set up. I put mine on so that when the engine is off, and the shaft is centered in the free floating range, thats where I put my MA on horizontal with the wing. This way it can move either way as you come in to land. And as you can gather I use MA's, so when they break it doesn't hurt the wallet as much.

Test

Dragon is right. The guys at our club mount the props so when the engine dies, the "free float" horizontally. When the engine stalls, even if the prop is hanging down, most times, it will rotate up and be alright after landing...... most times. :-)

Mike

Most times is right, I did break one last night. It was the first one this year not counting the three broken in mid-airs.

I have tried all that,I hav'nt been coming in dead stick.But 1/2 the times I do I still break a prop.I have been using Master Air screws(Bad choice?)

Kramers Combat Spads

I use MA's also. I don't have any problems with them.

Dude, whats with the dragon???? hehe

You didn't say what prop you are using .....
I find the master airscrews are pretty tough. But make sure you have it installed to come horizontal when engine is shut down.

On landing, do your planes lawn dart or slide? If you're flying too nose heavy the plane will nose over when you try to slow down for landing, causeing the prop to take the brunt of the landing force. Moving the cg back will allow you to land slower and at a more level attitude. If you move the cg back, DO SO IN SMALL INCRIMENTS until you can slide in for your landings. Another benefit of moving the cg back is that you can reduce the control throws, which will reduce drag, which will result in a faster plane, especially in the turns.

Be very careful moving the cg on flying wings, a nose heavy flying wing will land like a brick, a tail heavy flying wing is a dangerous thing indeed.

My experience is that APC props and wood props are goners every flight, even when mounted to be hozizontal at touchdown. MA's always last until a crash.

I put a single 3/4" or 1" wheel on my Spads right at the firewall. Keeps the dirt & crap off the engine. Use 5/64" wire (2-56 Kwik link stuff) and bend it in a "U" shape with the wheel on it. Just above the top of the wheel, bend the wire flush with the bottom of the fuselage and use a needle nose pliers and make eyelets or "U" bends for screws. Screw it to the bottom of the firewall. Takes 10 minutes and takes all the landing abuse. You'll have to straighten it out after some landings. Can't tell the performance difference in flight.

If you're nosing in on landing, you need more elevator authority. I have one plane like that and the nose wheel takes the impact. This same plane can't turn as tight as some others in the air. I need to change the tail.

I think my first fuse was a little nose heavy,I just had to make a new one and I got the balance a little closer to where it should be.I have a couple flights on it and hav'nt broke a prop yet.That could be the answer.

Try boiling your MA's for a half hour.

Some say the nylon absorbs some water and becomes more flexible. Probably anneals the plastic too, so any internal stress from molding is reduced. Mine seem to hold up a lot better doing that.

Other than all the other stuff, what size spinner are you using, try a larger size, 2 to 2 1/2 inch, worked for me.

Chris

Kramer,

Did you say you "didn't" come in dead stick? If the engine is running while you are trying to land, it will break every time. If you don't want to run a whole tank, just set your trim or a switch to kill your engine and that will increase your prop survival %.

Good luck!

Did a touch and go with my preditor last week.

The engine wouldn't shut down, but i came in for a landing anyway. When the prop hit the ground, the tail went down and it lifted off with the engine still running!

The tips are ground down a bit, but no break. It was a boiled MA.