REFLECTOR: Vesta Prop

[John Tvedte]

Just mentioning - on the taxi testing - one should always be prepared to fly the airplane...so if you don't feel comfortable flying with this propeller, I would suggest not doing any taxi testing with it - IMHO.

Be safe,
John

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of dohayes at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 4:12 PM
To: reflector at tvbf.org
Subject: REFLECTOR: Vesta Prop

I took delivery of a three blade, hydraulic, Vesta propeller shortly after the incident in Texas, with instructions never to use it. Jason Day reinforced that by failing to trim it to proper diameter before shipment, refusing to provide a manual, and insisting that the way I had removed it from the crate had completely destroyed it. Fortunately, Dave Dent, who was at that time was both familiar and enthusiastic about the propeller, was able to provide a manual and enough advice to allow me to mount it on my engine. Some time later, Jason calmed down a little and helpfully offered that I could trim the blades with a Dremmel, but since I knew there is a lot more to it than that, I realized that talking to him was pointless.

I don't know if the failed propeller was electric or hydraulic like mine, but I do know that without support from Jason, I don't have the expertise to determine its airworthiness. I've been using it to test my engine, and might use it for taxi testing if I have enough ground clearance, but will eventually sell it to someone more knowledgeable, or who wants to use it for the same purpose.

Doug Hayes
Velocity 173FG
Boulder, Colorado
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