swampyankee
Chief Master Sergeant
- 3,993
- Jun 25, 2013
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a three blade prop has a higher efficency but the diameter of the prop to accept the greater HP would exceed the length of the landing gear so the only way around was to add more prop blades. However, there are some sources that claim that a four blade is more efficent at high altitude.
Hope that helped
There is another point of diminishing returns and that is frwer blades. They found out in the 1930's about aeroelasticity of the prop adn discovered that high-powered 2-bladed props were prone to shed blades after too much flexing during takeoff and high-power runs.
You may remember that Jum Wright made a replica of the Howrd Higes racer, complete with the same engine and prop. He was warned by several people that the 2-blade with the Hornet engine was a dangerous combination but, while flying back to Oregon from Oshkosh, he shed a prop blade and crashed.
Now THAT's a propeller!
a three blade prop has a higher efficency but the diameter of the prop to accept the greater HP would exceed the length of the landing gear so the only way around was to add more prop blades. However, there are some sources that claim that a four blade is more efficent at high altitude.
Hope that helped
No - THIS is the mother of all props...
6.9 metres in diameter.
Linke-Hofmann R.II - Wikipedia
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