"I'm not sure I will be able top make you a prop at this time. I
don't use a duplicating machine, all props are hand carved and I'm
getting older and having difficulty carving the bigger ones.
Ed"
So there goes my plan for a $650 prop.
Performance props are now $2,700 according to Bill B. They want
$700 to finish his prop (that's normally included in the price). I
paid $875 in 1999 for my RV-3 Performance prop, so that 300%
inflation. That's going to bust my $20,000 budget.
Any ideas for a cheaper prop?
I was thinking about building a prop duplicator and duplicating my
RV-3B prop (or Tracy's RV-4 prop if I can borrow it). But where
does one get 4 3/4" prop blanks or wood? Not sure I trust my
ability to laminate wood...
Finn
Installation will be quite similar to Tracy Crook's RV-4.
Here are some of his notes [from
https://web.archive.org/web/20111120073159/http://rotaryaviation.com/renesis_engine.htm]:
"
Clark at Performance Props was very
honest about the difficulty in getting the proper pitch at the
blade root (out to ~ 3" past the 13" dia. spinner) with pitch
this high. [88" ?]
Other conclusions are that anything
less than 74" L prop is a waste on the -C [2.85:1] drive.
I must
emphasize that in order for this to work [2.85:1 gear
reduction instead of 2.17:1], the prop must not only be long
but has to have a good profile as far down toward the root as
possible with the MUCH higher pitch. I worked with Clark at
Performance Props and emphasized this. It required a thicker
than standard [4-3/8”] hub to
get close to what was needed.
If you don't do these things, all
you get is significantly higher rpm, less performance, higher
fuel burn and higher wear. Tracy"