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From: "Mike Wills" <rv-4mike@cox.net>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
References: <list-3543276@logan.com>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] IVO Prop
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:02:51 -0700
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John,

 I looked pretty seriously at the IVO a number of years ago. But was scared 
off by a number of things:

1) Watched Dave Atkins repairing a delaminated trailing edge on the flight 
line at Copperstate fly-in.
2) A friend with a Kolb Firestar/Rotax 503/ground adjustable IVO had the 
prop come apart in flight resulting in a forced landing that totaled the 
plane.
3) Tracy's experience re reduced performance at speed.
4) The issues experienced by Lyc powered users.

Numbers 1 & 2 were possibly due to something going through the prop with the 
engine running. Issue 4 seems to be not relevant. This leaves Tracy's 
experience with the IVO. I wasnt thinking about the fact that you fly a 
pusher when I asked, but presumably a pusher would not have the prop root 
issue that Tracy reported. On my RV-4 I use a much larger than stock spinner 
and this issue may not be as significant as it was for Tracy. But I'm not 
sure I want to buy one to find out. My current prop seems to be pretty close 
though I havent flown it enough to really make a judgement.

Thanks for the feedback.

Mike Wills
RV-4 N144MW


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Slade" <sladerj@sbcglobal.net>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 9:41 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] IVO Prop


> >I didn't know anyone had ever had any success with an IVO. Tell me more.
> What do you want to know? Its a very well engineered piece of equipment. 
> The CF blades are hollow and have a steel rod running to the hub. 
> Activating the motor via brushes twists the steel and thus twists the 
> blades equally. The twist change is quite visible. There were problems 
> with the individual blades slipping on the hub. This has been solved by 
> providing a knurled hub, and not selling to guys with Lycomings. The IVO 
> is available for rotary, subaru, Franklin 6 and other less "pulsy" 
> engines. After the first 15 hours or so my blades have hardly taken any 
> extra torque.
>
> My performance is greatly enhanced compared to the fixed pitch Performance 
> prop. Static with the wood prop was around 4500. With the IVO on full fine 
> I get closer to 5400 which gives me access to a lot more power on take 
> off. I've never done a "high speed" run with the IVO, but I've had 180 kts 
> indicated at 2000' a few times without much effort, and without ever going 
> to the full course setting. Another nice bonus is that throttled back on 
> full fine for landing, the prop acts like a brake. Its much easier to land 
> and stop than the fixed pitch that's pushing you along fairly well, even 
> at idle.
>
> I know a Velocity driver (Mike Watson) who also uses an IVO (Franklin 6) 
> and is very happy with it after around 5 years of use.
>
> The factory people are very easy to deal with and very helpful.
>
> The Cozy Girrrls are installing an IVO. What better recommendation could 
> you want? :)
>
> Regards,
> John Slade
> Turbo Rotary Cozy IV, N96PM
> 98.1 Hrs.
>
> Mike Wills wrote:
>>
>>
>> Mike Wills
>> RV-4 N144MW
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Slade" <sladerj@sbcglobal.net>
>> To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 10:30 AM
>> Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Ground Testing
>>
>>
>>> The IVO electric in-flight adjustable costs around $2350. I'm very 
>>> pleased with mine. My "spare" is a $2700 fixed pitch wood prop thats a 
>>> piece of art, but doesn't work anywhere near as well.
>>> John
>>>
>>> Tracy Crook wrote:
>>> A variable pitch prop would be nice to get the best of both worlds but 
>>> it's an expensive option and $10,000 buys a lot of gas.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
>>> Archive and UnSub: 
>>> http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/flyrotary/List.html
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
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>>
>
>
> --
> Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
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>