Painting the pilot side of a wood prop

[Michael Horowitz]

There are sun angles such that on final I get a strobe effect from sun
reflected off the back of the wooden prop.
I have asked Sensinich if painting the back would cause them any
heartburn i.e. different rates of heat absorbtion, balance , etc.
NILHRD from them yet.
Anyone had any experience? - Mike

[Kyle Boatright]

My prop was made by Aymar/Demuth and came from the factory with black paint
on the back.It hasn't given any problems in 4 years and over 300 hours, and
the black paint more or less makes the prop disappear from the pilot's seat.

I don't think you'll have any problems painting yours. Just make sure it is
clean to start with, and use a semi-gloss (not flat) paint. Flat paints
don't hold up well, and are harder to clean. Also, use light coats of
paint, and try and keep the amount of paint equal on both blades or your
prop *might* have a balance problem.

KB

"Michael Horowitz" > wrote in message
...
> There are sun angles such that on final I get a strobe effect from sun
> reflected off the back of the wooden prop.
> I have asked Sensinich if painting the back would cause them any
> heartburn i.e. different rates of heat absorbtion, balance , etc.
> NILHRD from them yet.
> Anyone had any experience? - Mike
>

[Smitty]

In article >,
Michael Horowitz > wrote:

> There are sun angles such that on final I get a strobe effect from sun
> reflected off the back of the wooden prop.
> I have asked Sensinich if painting the back would cause them any
> heartburn i.e. different rates of heat absorbtion, balance , etc.
> NILHRD from them yet.
> Anyone had any experience? - Mike

That strobe effect could be more than annoying. Some pilots are unaware
of flicker vertigo, sometimes triggered by landing into a setting sun.
The idle RPM of a prop shuttering a bright light source can scramble the
brain so thoroughly that the pilot becomes incapable of flying, with
fatal results. As a minimum it's good to find out whether you're
susceptible to this, and if so, avoid landing on 27 at sunset!

[Blueskies]

"Smitty" > wrote in message ...
>
> That strobe effect could be more than annoying. Some pilots are unaware
> of flicker vertigo, sometimes triggered by landing into a setting sun.
> The idle RPM of a prop shuttering a bright light source can scramble the
> brain so thoroughly that the pilot becomes incapable of flying, with
> fatal results. As a minimum it's good to find out whether you're
> susceptible to this, and if so, avoid landing on 27 at sunset!

I've also read that this flicker can cause a seizure in diabetics...

[Stealth Pilot]

On Sat, 28 May 2005 08:53:09 -0400, Michael Horowitz
> wrote:

>There are sun angles such that on final I get a strobe effect from sun
>reflected off the back of the wooden prop.
>I have asked Sensinich if painting the back would cause them any
>heartburn i.e. different rates of heat absorbtion, balance , etc.
>NILHRD from them yet.
>Anyone had any experience? - Mike

paint the side facing you matt black.
use an acrylic laquer out of a rattle can (its the lightest weight
paint)
paint even coats on each side then balance your prop.
correct the imbalance with layers of paint.
bolt it back on using a torque wrench and you will have done yourself
and your aeroplane a big favour.

shiny props of any colour are a liability with the sun behind you
because you get a shiny wooden or chrome disk in front of you that can
be impossible to see through.
(been there and painted it matt black the next day. balancing the prop
is very important in the battle against fatigue failures)

Stealth Pilot
Australia

[Montblack]

"Blueskies" > I've also read that this flicker can cause a seizure in
diabetics...


Diabetics?

How does that work?


Montblack

[jls]

"Blueskies" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Smitty" > wrote in message
...
> >
> > That strobe effect could be more than annoying. Some pilots are unaware
> > of flicker vertigo, sometimes triggered by landing into a setting sun.
> > The idle RPM of a prop shuttering a bright light source can scramble the
> > brain so thoroughly that the pilot becomes incapable of flying, with
> > fatal results. As a minimum it's good to find out whether you're
> > susceptible to this, and if so, avoid landing on 27 at sunset!
>
> I've also read that this flicker can cause a seizure in diabetics...
>

Yes, and there is also anecdotal evidence in the literature that it renders
viagra ineffective and has triggered coprolalia. That's the reason why I
paint the backside of woods props flat black, or with satin varnish.

[Darrel Toepfer]

Montblack wrote:

> "Blueskies" > I've also read that this flicker can cause a seizure in
> diabetics...
>
> Diabetics?
>
> How does that work?

Dianetics... Believers in everything Diane...

[Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired]

Darrel Toepfer wrote:
> Montblack wrote:
>
>> "Blueskies" > I've also read that this flicker can cause a seizure in
>> diabetics...
>>
>> Diabetics?
>>
>> How does that work?
>
>
> Dianetics... Believers in everything Diane...

Frequently in conflict with Judyism which is basically what occurs when
Judy finds you with Diane.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[Blueskies]

"Richard Riley" > wrote in message ...
> On Sun, 29 May 2005 15:27:27 GMT, "Blueskies"
> > wrote:
>
> :
> :"Smitty" > wrote in message ...
> :>
> :> That strobe effect could be more than annoying. Some pilots are unaware
> :> of flicker vertigo, sometimes triggered by landing into a setting sun.
> :> The idle RPM of a prop shuttering a bright light source can scramble the
> :> brain so thoroughly that the pilot becomes incapable of flying, with
> :> fatal results. As a minimum it's good to find out whether you're
> :> susceptible to this, and if so, avoid landing on 27 at sunset!
> :
> :I've also read that this flicker can cause a seizure in diabetics...
> :
> No. In epileptics, sometimes.

Well, one good reply out of 5 isn't bad...thanks!

[NVArt]

coprolalia? Did you mean coprophilia?

[Michael Horowitz]

Michael Horowitz > wrote:

>There are sun angles such that on final I get a strobe effect from sun
>reflected off the back of the wooden prop.
>I have asked Sensinich if painting the back would cause them any
>heartburn i.e. different rates of heat absorbtion, balance , etc.
>NILHRD from them yet.
>Anyone had any experience? - Mike


Sensinich replied that it's not a problem if you maintain the
propellers balance.

Thanks for the replies - MIke

[Stealth Pilot]

On Thu, 02 Jun 2005 04:32:46 -0400, Michael Horowitz
> wrote:

>Michael Horowitz > wrote:
>
>>There are sun angles such that on final I get a strobe effect from sun
>>reflected off the back of the wooden prop.
>>I have asked Sensinich if painting the back would cause them any
>>heartburn i.e. different rates of heat absorbtion, balance , etc.
>>NILHRD from them yet.
>>Anyone had any experience? - Mike
>
>
>Sensinich replied that it's not a problem if you maintain the
>propellers balance.
>
>Thanks for the replies - MIke

prop balance the most important.
second most important, dont have any ridges or edges to the paint.
the loss of laminar flow can be critical
....or should that be the loss of thrust can be horrifying.
Stealth Pilot