Warp Drive Still Learnin'

[tomhall]

I have been flying my RAF with a 4 - blade Warp Drive for 5 years. When I bought the prop, I asked them ( at the factory in IA ) about rounding the tips to reduce noise. They said " Yes, it would help and we will do it. " So, last week at www.theflyin.com I met a guy, Larry, who looked at my prop a said he could help me ! ? The tips, when rounded, were about 3/8" thick. Larry said " You are dragging those blunt tips through the air creating MORE noise and less lift. " I went to his shop this past week-end. He had several aircraft, a 1,000 ft. grass strip and several others there for his advise. He feathered the tips and balanced the blades. I flew them Labor Day at 14 degrees pitch ( where I always have had them ). My normal full throttle rpm was 5,000 ; now it is 5,200 rpm ! I will now pitch them at 15 degrees. Larry also asked " do you wax your prop ? " ; I said no. After his explaination it made sense; smoother surface, less drag, more power. He also has vast experience with Subaru's and suggested trying to reduce the rpm's to 4,000 or less in normal cruise. Still learnin' Tom T. Hall in MN

[PPG Doug]

What Soob are you flying?

[tomhall]

Doug, I have a 2002 2.5 FI !

[Chuck Roberg]

Alright Tom. What have you been eating. Why do you need the extra lift. :rolleyes::D:D:D:D:D

Glad your havin' fun.

[Harry_S.]

Tom,

Could you post a close-up foto of a modified blade tip? TNX.


Cheers :)

[tomhall]

Harry, da wife & I are off to Norway in a few days; I'll get some pics in a couple of weeks ! Tom T.

[Gyropilot007]

Tom:

I'd be interested in pictures as well...One of these days I'm going to be flying my bird again.

Bob

[Chuck Roberg]

I'd be interested in pictures as well...One of these days I'm going to be flying my bird again.

Bob, I believe it is called a French tip. If you send your blades back to Warp Drive they can do it for you. Plus they will re-balance and make them pretty again.

[Chopper Reid]

[QUOTE=tomhall; 15 degrees. Larry also asked " do you wax your prop ? " ; I said no. After his explaination it made sense; smoother surface, less drag, more power. He also has vast experience with Subaru's and suggested trying to reduce the rpm's to 4,000 or less in normal cruise. Still learnin' Tom T. Hall in MN[/QUOTE]

What do they use to wax them with ??

I have a 3 bladed WD and with a 2.2 suby, I have my cruise at approx 3800 /4000 which helps quieten things down a bit.

[birdy]

Send um back??
I just marked out a round tip with an appropriate sized pice of steal pipe n ground it off with a 4" grinder. [ carefull tho, WDs are pretty soft to a 4" girnder]

And yes, its quieter.

[tomhall]

Brian, a quality car wax I am told. A friend mentioned a wax that looks like a stick of deodorant ; I'll try to find it' name. Tom T.

[HAWK PILOT]

Can you round tips of blades with nickle leading edges, like the 72" blades on the sparrow hawk.