PA18-180 4 blade Prop

Check with Mile High Gliding in Boulder Colorado. They have a pawnee with a 4 blad prop. I visited them a few weeks ago and I was amazed how quiet their tow plane is. You can hear the engine but it seems that there is no noise coming out of the prop.

On Jul 15, 1:33*pm, Bastoune wrote:
Check with Mile High Gliding in Boulder Colorado. They have a pawnee with a 4 blad prop. I visited them a few weeks ago and I was amazed how quiet their tow plane is. You can hear the engine but it seems that there is no noise coming out of the prop.

After being exposed to US Pawnees for years I was amazed at how quiet
the Pawnee was at Challock (Kent U.K) when I visited a couple of
years ago. The combination of a 4 blade prop and a good muffler made
the tug inaudible from the launch point before it was halfway through
the takeoff roll. Of course that could mean the takeoff roll was
really long but I don't remember that it was.

Andy

On Sunday, July 15, 2012 5:50:18 PM UTC-5, Andy wrote:
On Jul 15, 1:33*pm, Bastoune > wrote:
> Check with Mile High Gliding in Boulder Colorado. They have a pawnee with a 4 blad prop. I visited them a few weeks ago and I was amazed how quiet their tow plane is. You can hear the engine but it seems that there is no noise coming out of the prop.

After being exposed to US Pawnees for years I was amazed at how quiet
the Pawnee was at Challock (Kent U.K) when I visited a couple of
years ago. The combination of a 4 blade prop and a good muffler made
the tug inaudible from the launch point before it was halfway through
the takeoff roll. Of course that could mean the takeoff roll was
really long but I don't remember that it was.

Andy

Actually the Pawnee is with the Soaring Society of Boulder and we are being pulled by it all week at the SSB's Dalhart, Texas XC Camp.

I am not sure which engine size it has (don't think it'd be the 180hp, probably the 235 or 260 version) but I'll ask tomorrow. Will also try to get a few pics if you're interested. The folks from Boulder reported the prop has about a 30% reduction in power/efficiency...but that sucker sure is quiet. I can be on the ramp ~50-60 feet away from it when it taxi's up and maintain a normal level of conversation with someone standing next to me...not like the 2-bladed Pawnee back at home. The N-number is N8808L.

Regards,

Rob S.
ZAP

On Monday, July 16, 2012 9:20:59 PM UTC-7, RAS56 wrote:
The folks from Boulder reported the prop has about a 30% reduction in power/efficiency...but that sucker sure is quiet. Rob S.
ZAP


There used to be one on a Pawnee at the now defunct "Soar Minden", that is until it departed the Pawnee like a frisbee in flight. (Seems it really IS important to retorque those prop bolts after a few hours operating in a dry climate.)

Likewise, while quiet, the big complaint was poor climb rate, especially at higher altitude. I wasn't towing back then, so have no first hand experience.

bumper

Originally Posted by Andy[_1_]

On Jul 15, 1:33*pm, Bastoune wrote:
Check with Mile High Gliding in Boulder Colorado. They have a pawnee with a 4 blad prop. I visited them a few weeks ago and I was amazed how quiet their tow plane is. You can hear the engine but it seems that there is no noise coming out of the prop.

After being exposed to US Pawnees for years I was amazed at how quiet
the Pawnee was at Challock (Kent U.K) when I visited a couple of
years ago. The combination of a 4 blade prop and a good muffler made
the tug inaudible from the launch point before it was halfway through
the takeoff roll. Of course that could mean the takeoff roll was
really long but I don't remember that it was.

Andy

I think prop noise is worst sideways on. It doesn't sound too bad when you are behind the tug at the launchpoint, but if you are partway down the field when ours goes past there is a really annoying rasp. One of our planning prescribed towout routes makes a quarter circle around an isolated (expensive) house. Not surprisingly the owner has made vociferous complaints.

Mike