On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 19:21:22 -0400, "Larry Smith"
wrote:

I have a wood prop on my Taylorcraft and the GPS says it's slow, at around
65 kts. How about a discussion on the relative merits of wood and aluminum
props. I understand that wood is easier on your engine but the aluminum
prop is more efficient. Another thing I notice too, especially on the
O-320 and O-360-powered RV's is that the wood prop is so light it has little
flywheel effect and if you don't have your timing retarded, it will kick
back in a heartbeat. I figure the wood prop on a Van's aircraft is for CG.

To retard the timing because of a wooden prop is nuts.
I've never met anyone dumb enough to even consider this.
YMMV.

FWIW....
My 0-320 with wooden prop would attempt to shake
the airframe and itself apart below 900 rpm.
So, you accept the 900 rpm idle.
That's it.
Period.

With metal prop --
Idle is acceptably smoooth, even at 650 rpm.
Added bonuses - brake life is increased.
No longer does the RV3 with 79 pitch attempt to taxi at 20+ mph.
Running in rain is a joy. No varnish to be damaged - unlike with wood.

I think what I'll do is buy an aluminum prop and try it for a while. I
couldn't keep up with a DCO-75 last week and it was a little embarrassing,
since his engine was sick. But he had an aluminum prop.

Sorry, there's more here than meets the casual eye.

A friend has two 65 hp T-Crafts with McCauley 45 pitch props.
Both run 90 mph at 2150 rpm.
Both will exceed 100 mph at WOT at 2000 ASL.

P.S.
Unless you look real close...
A metal prop pitched the same as a wood one
will cruise about the same. Not worth the money
difference in speed, if that is all you're looking for.

If you have to go significantly faster...
remove the wings or at least clip them
and bolt on a C-85.


Barnyard BOb --