3-blade props for C182's

AggieMike88

AggieMike88

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Jan 13, 2010
Messages
20,803
Location
Denton, TX
Display Name
The original "I don't know it all" of aviation.
Home Airfield
KDTO (Denton Enterprise)
In the spirit of the "rookie pilot" questions....

55WB, a 1975 C182P, has a 2 blade prop and our club members are happy with the aircraft and the performance it brings to the club.

But I've also seen the same aircraft fitted with a 3-blade prop.

What does this prop bring to the party that the 2-blade doesn't? Does the aircraft owner give up anything?
 
Mike, your far more experienced than I am but with that said. I've been doing some research on planes and what I have found is, the 3 blade is quieter and less vibrations. And IIRC it improves climb and takeoff but may cost you a very small % of speed during cruise.
 
All I can come up with is, shorter blades so less distance traveled. Tips less likely to go supersonic so more power can be sent to the prop?

That is a guess but I could be totally off.
 
Ground clearance, sex appeal, less noise, better climb ....

that's all I got ..
 
One more blade.

More weight on the nose of an already nose heavy 182.
 
When I see a three bladed prop on a GA single I always figure that the airplane had a prop strike and the three bladed prop was a cheaper replacement.
 
Jim beat me to the punch. According to a couple pilot friends of mine, a three blade was the cheaper option on their planes.
 
The new MT or Hartzel composite props would be a nice upgrade. The paddle prop design moves the center of thrust to the middle of the blade vs. being on the tip = quieter. Plus more of the blade is actually making thrust rather than in beta. It's just a better prop.

McCauley props are garbage.
 
We put an MT two blade on our skywagon and dropped 9 pounds off the very foremost CG station.

It's a match made in heaven....
 
Keep in mind making sure you know where you're getting them fixed if you ding them and/or if you even can. And also what repairs run.

MT for example was only repairable overseas for a while and some forms of damage on the composites is grounding while that ding in a metal prop may be able to be field dressed and flown to the repair facility.

Me, if I can't get it repaired at Rocky Mtn Propeller, I won't buy it. They're obviously too close and too convenient to screw that up.

They'll even send a pickup truck over to get it. ;)

Consider your own local prop shop situation appropriately before purchase.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top