"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:Z7b1f.400967$x96.209528@attbi_s72...
What is "overspeed" on a fixed prop?

Same thing it is on a constant speed prop: the engine exceeds its maximum
allowed RPM.

"Max RPMs" on an O-320 (and, in fact, all aircraft engines) are so
retarded that the engine is really just loping along at 2700 rpm.

That's simply not true. In fact, the engine manual for any engine has very
specific guidelines about what the true maximum RPM is and how much you can
exceed that for how long before requiring some kind of maintenance. These
numbers are not far above the indicated redline.

Pete