Hi Larry and Del 57" dia x 60" pitch was fine until I broke off the tips in a heavy landing. This prop only gave about 7" ground clearance in level attitude. I got the nose too far forward in a bounce and the flexing of the gear legs upward led to minus 1". So I've now increased main tyre size to 5.00 x 5, reduced tail wheel from 5" to 4" and use the 54" prop. This combination gives about 3" more clearance at the prop. However, as you see from max static rpm of 3850, this prop is already at its upper speed limits (900 ft/sec for wood according to Sterba) and so its really only been good for circuit testing stuff and I haven't been able to go full throttle in the cruise without going Mach 1 and above the engine optimium power/torque band.....hence the three blade adjustable option.......plus I reckon they look cool!!
Lesson is to ensure to allow for leg flex. Another interesting thing I noted was that the cooling from the 60" pitch at stationary idle was less efficient than the 56" when stationary...maybe the blades were less stalled near their roots and air inlets at the finer pitch....dunno?? Am I warped or what? William W if ya listening have you got any deals going...email me privately? SAAA annual flyin at Wagga Wagga (aboriginal for Wagga I understand) coming up. See Ya John and Janet Martindale 29 Jane Circuit TOORMINA NSW 2452 AUSTRALIA ph: 61 2 6658 4767 email: johnj...@chc.net.au
