On Fri, 06 Aug 2004 17:30:54 +0200, Stefan
wrote:

G.R. Patterson III wrote:

They reduce power, add drag, weigh more

Not really.

Oh yes. As I mentioned in a previous post. I replaced a 2 blade
hartzel on my Deb with a 3-blade hartzel. The 3-blade weighs 83# and
the 2-blade was 57. Stuck that far out in front they certainly make a
difference. It also cost me about 4 knots in cruise.


and are very expensive.

Replacing a perfectly good two blade prop is expensive, yes. But when
the prop must be replaced anyway, or factory installing a four blade
prop instead of a two blader doesn't cost that much more, if you relate

If you don't call $8800 exchange expensive.
Actually you can overhaul a 2 blade for about $5,000 so the 3-blade is
about $3,000 more. Over the life of the prop at 4 knots, the
difference is many thousands of miles.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

it to the total cost of an airplane.

Stefan