AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2013 - 89

See Us at AirVenture 2013,
Hangar B, Booth 2104-2105

to be true—excluding the 10 minutes it took
to remove and reattach the spinner.
The carbon fiber prop also came with
a four-inch prop extension from Saber
Manufacturing, of Granbury, Texas, and
the solid aluminum casting is such a work
of art that it’s a shame it’s hidden under the
engine cowling.
On my airplane the best all-around
“Goldilocks” setting for the propeller
turned out to be number five (on a scale
from two to seven), but that can change
based on the purpose of any particular
flight. For formation flying and aerobatics, I’ll switch to a finer pitch for quicker
acceleration and deceleration. For long
cross-countries, I’ll move to a coarser blade
angle for optimum efficiency.
Sensenich has collected data on carbon
fiber propeller performance and durability
from its work in UAVs, airboats, and Light
Sport aircraft, and the company will consider pursuing FAA certification if the Part
23 rewrite now under way makes it economically feasible. The company also is
exploring three-blade, carbon fiber props
for Experimental airplanes (and already
is making three-, four-, and even six-blade
props for airboats and UAVs).
Rowell said he is convinced that
ground-adjustable props are the best
option for many Experimental aircraft.
“Experimental airplanes tend to vary
widely in performance based on engines,
weight, aerodynamics, and other factors,”
Rowell said. “Any fixed-pitch prop is going
to be a compromise, but we think groundadjustable props are the way to go because
they give pilots the flexibility to optimize
their propeller’s performance—whether
they’re flying from a field elevation of
6,500 feet or sea level.”
Rowell said it’s easy to imagine many
more benefits for GA as a result of new technologies in the burgeoning UAV market.
“There’s a great deal of research and
development taking place in areas such
as heavy-fuel engines, propellers, traffic systems, and autopilots that have
direct applications for aviation,” Rowell
said. “We’re investing in new tooling and
materials, and there’s much more on the
horizon.”
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EMAIL dave.hirschman@aopa.org
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2013
