REFLECTOR: Performance Question

[Dave Nelson]

I have a std wing RG / 200hp, and I flew a performance 3 blade for the first 
approx. 400 hours.  My experience was that a 3000 foot strip was about the 
minimum I'd tackle, and it has as much to do with landing as it does 
takeoff.  There is nothing as disconcerting as seeing the end of the runway 
approaching, whether your trying to slow down or trying to speed up.  On 
takeoff, at middling density altitudes (summertime in the midwest), I was 
always off the ground in less than 2000 feet.

I now have a 3 blade MT, with about 350 hours on it.  It cut my takeoff roll 
about in half.  Despite what others have said in this forum regarding MT, 
I'd say this: the prop didn't cost me any speed, was not substantially 
different in weight (considering that it replaced the 3 blade performance + 
prop extension + crush plate + prop bolts, etc)., and while I did have a 
service problem (electric motor failed), the company exceeded my 
expectations in getting me back in the air.  The single defficency with my 
MT has been the RPM restrictions, as I have a non-counterweighted engine. 
I've gotten used to that, and while I'd much prefer they'd find a solution, 
I'm not willing to give up the excellent performance I get from a constant 
speed prop.  And I'd close with this - consider that MT did a thorough 
enough testing job to find out that they did in fact have a resonance 
problem with certain prop / engine combinations.  That's a much better 
situation than, say, Performance props who have had significant cracking 
issues (located at about 1/3 of the span - keep an eye out for this!), as 
reported widely in the Central States canard community - and yet who refuse 
to admit that there may be an issue.  JMOH.

Dave
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Black" <dvblack at comcast.net>
To: ".Velocity Reflector" <reflector at awpi.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2005 10:47 PM
Subject: REFLECTOR: Performance Question


>I have a shortwing RG / 200hp / Performance Prop. One month to completion 
>and holding.
> How much runway will I need once the airplane and I become familiar with 
> each
> other?
> Is 4000 ft adequate?
> What about 3000 ft?
>
> Dave Black
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