low inertial mass Powerfin

[dynacure]

Rotax has set a limit for how much inertial mass is allowable on the A/B-box and C/E-box. On the A/B-box they want propellers with no more than 3,000 kg/cm2. A 72" – 3-blade Ivoprop ultralight propeller is about 4,500 kg/cm2. The same Warp Drive is over 10,000 kg/cm2. Powerfin propellers are 2,500 kg/cm2 for a big three-blade model and 1,800 kg/cm2 for a two- blade model. Powerfin Inc. is the only U.S. manufacturer to have addressed this issue and met the challenge of designing a very durable, low inertia propeller for the Rotax gearboxes; According to their website.
Is this claim true?

Kind regards,
Willem

[ultracruiser41]

Powerfin makes a very good prop....not as tough as a warp drive but very good. I had one on an UL and one on a gyro.

I currently use IVOPROPS on both my FW and my gyro. (Alot easier to adjust)

They're both working great and the initial mass is less than the warpdrives.

BarryK

[mark treidel]

What is the limit set for the C/E gear boxes? Post #1 above does not state that limit. Anyone know??

[gyroparts]

6000 kg/cm2 for c and e

[dynacure]

What means that a Warp Drive prop isn't recommended on a C/E gearbox by Rotax!?
Does anybody has info on the noise level of a Powerfin prop?

Kind regards,
Willem

[chuter]

I've got a Powerfin on mine and I get comments about how quiet my gyro is compared to others.

I've been told that prop noise on a tractor is less in general because it's in clean air, so I don't know how much difference there would be if it was on a pusher.

[mark treidel]

Would someone please post a link to this information from Rotax...I have not been able to find it on their website anywhere. Thanks in advance, Mark

[a1frankie]

www.800-airwolf.com

[MrGrey]

Please be careful with powerfin props, especially in a tractor gyro. Tom Milton has an example of a powerfin that was used on a gyro once and it disintegrated and nearly destroyed the motor and aircraft. A small pair of goggles hit the prop and from what i saw it looked like someone blew it up. Not a pretty site. Warp drive and ivo are a lot tougher. I have seen pics of what little damage actually occurs when a bolt, nut, or whatever may strike the prop. Quite reassuring actually.

[scott heger]

I had a powerfin eat some things and do OK. The first thing was a pair of wire rim sunglasses that chose a poor time to break one temple. I felt them slipping from my face and tried to grab them, but didn't want to reach too far back. Watched it hit the prop, and chop up the glasses. Since i was still in the airport pattern, I landed. To my surprise, a piece of the temple was still embedded in one blade, and it had damaged another blade. It took a pair of pliers to remove the metal part out of the prop. The repair was superglue and baking soda putty, then filed smooth. It flew fine , but was carefullly checked each and every flight. The next time a nut from the prerotor came off after doing a engine change a year later. Poor preflight by yours truely. Of course it did not hit the already dinged blades, but got the remaining good one. I could here a minor prop noise change at some point during the 1 hour flight, but could not see the damage. I was not close to any airport, and flew on to homebase at a reduced power level. The damage was quite severe and deep, once I landed....no fixing this one blade. This time I ordered a new set of prop blades. I am still mad at myself for missing that loose nut. Preflight, and be really careful doing so.
As far as the blade strength, hard to complain at all about the powerfins, and have over 400 hours flying on them. I am sure warp drive and ivo are stronger, but they are also much heavier for a single place. I like the fat Powerfin blades for a single place pusher design. Just really watch for those loose parts falling off. This is also one of the reasons I change the exhaust springs every annual. I have had two break so far, but they were double safety wired , and stayed put.

Oh, by the way, anybody need a new style powerfin 3 blade prop hub, I have one for $50.

Scott Heger,Laguna Niguel, Ca N86SH

[flopzone]

scott do you still have the powerfin hub ?

[fiveboy]

My experience with Powerfin revolves around a slight delamination I noticed starting on a leading edge seam. I took photos and Stuart the owner wrote me immediately and said to send it in.... he determined that it was not safe and declared it a warranty issue and sent me a new blade.... the blade was several years old but they stood behind their product!