REFLECTOR:CONFUSION

Scott Derrick reflector@tvbf.org
Wed, 16 Jul 2003 08:23:52 -0600


Alan's a good guy and knows a great deal but he's also got an ego as big 
as the state of Florida.  He's very attached to his ideas.

I completely agree that with a IO540 your climb performance will be good 
either way.

But, for all around performance you can't beat a constant speed prop. 
No way, no how.  You can tune a fixed pitch prop to beat a constant 
speed in one phase of flight: climb, flat out, etc..  But your not 
building a racer.  I wish I could afford a CS prop for my Std RG., I'd 
buy it today.

> He recommended a three-blade performance prop made by Performance Props 
> in Arizona.  He said it should be put on a five inch extension and it 
> will fit perfectly with the cowl he designed.

I'd recommend a Catto if your were going fixed pitch.

> He said the fixed pitch also helps with cooling because it can get 
> closer to the big cowl openings on each side of the prop and it will 
> actually ?suck out? air creating a cooling effect.

Maybe, maybe not.  I think this kind of thing requires a 1,000 hours of 
tweaking to get it right.

> He also said that the exhaust pointing straight out the back through two 
> ports (bottom left and right) will actually cause a venturi effect 
> inside the cowl ... which will force cool air to exit around it ? again 
> aiding in the cooling of the engine.

Same comment as above.

Scott