REFLECTOR: Constant Speed (hydraulic) props

Bellsouth Home dugasd at bellsouth.net
Thu Feb 3 21:51:44 CST 2011


Built and flew over 300 hrs with MT.  Repaired it 8 times painted it at least ten times. Bent the leading edge twice from who knows what. It worked great. No complaints. Very fragile. We have an 8000 ft runway in very good condition. After every flight as I shut it down I'd be wondering what I would see on post flight. 
I had new blades put on it and hub rebuilt and sold it to a fellow builder with 0 Hr log book. It is a good prop but to me the things that can really hurt you include prop failure. I was apparently horrible at avoiding invisible debris on taxiways and runways. Your mileage may vary. 

The replacement AeroComposite is "simply marvelous".  It is the same weight, faster by at least 8 knots, improved climb by at least 300 ft/min and is amazingly strong. No cracks, dings or bruises.  I'm not concerned if I'm testing if my RPM's go a little over 2700.  I was an early buyer and if ambient temp is above 103 degrees the blades on run up have locked in coarse pitch on two occasions. The factory has offered to bore the prop hub a few thousandths which fixed others but I have had no reason to remove it for the change. I just don't cycle the prop at takeoff when it is really hot. 
200 hrs and still very pleased.  Expensive?  Yes.  But it works for me.
I have pictures if desires off reflector. 
Disclaimer:  not employed or reimbursed by AC props. 



Sent from Rene's iPad.


On Feb 3, 2011, at 2:29 PM, "Brett Ferrell" <reflector at velocityxl.com> wrote:

> Hi Reflector Friends!!!  Brett is kind enough to post this for me!  (Though I read the Mirror all the time!)
> 
> I had a quick question…  it is now time for us to invest in a constant speed prop – don’t get me wrong, 180 kts out of our wonderful Catto is great but it was a promise I made to him when we started this!  I am trying to evaluate the Aero-composite prop versus the MT.  So far I have this data:
> 
> Pro MT:  cheaper, possibly faster, small dings can be fixed by Brett, many more of our friends are flying them
> 
> Pro Aero:  MUCH stronger (and we get many, many, MANY dings all the time – maybe due to our airport and its collection of rocks or maybe due to my skills at avoiding them – who knows)
> 
> My concern is that the second overhaul of the MT would put the Aero cheaper since some of you have implied they are made out of glass.
> 
> Any help and commentary is welcome!  Thank you!
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Elizabeth Ferrell
> 
> N44VF
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