wood props on a-65/ 7ac

[bkg7ac]

what is your opinon of wood props on a champ?

[MikeB]

They're prettier, more 'classic looking', seem to be a bit smoother and rev up faster. On the down side, my understanding is they're a bit slower (probably because of the thicker center section). They're also around 10# lighter than a metal prop.......also cheaper to buy.

But it's a Champ or a Chief and you're not going to go fast anyway.

MikeB (who has a metal prop on his Champ ).

[james gevay]

They obviously look much nicer and are original. They require a little more care and maintenance, but not much.
I'm running a McCauley IA90CF 70-38 which is a climb prop for my A75-8F.

As for speed, who really cares how fast your going, the fun is in the journey.

[skyking3286]

Wood can help limit the damage in a prop strike, is cheaper to buy, really smooth in the air, has no critical frequencies for harmonics, needs a cover to keep it from the weather (you can sew on out of vinyl material), needs to keep varnished and waxed (but that's sort of fun) and just looks right for the Aeronca.
You can't repitch it, so make sure you get the right one. A climb prop is far better and safer than a cruise one and the prop guy at Sensenich in Florida can steer you the right direction. DO NOT use the Aircraft spruce chart... it's off for the A65, according to the factory.

[jkvincent]

A climb prop is far better and safer than a cruise

I'm thinking about a wood prop (to save weight), could you explain "far better & safer"?

[bkg7ac]

Thanks guys . I have a McCauley 74/43 now. I think wood props look great on the Champ. I would like to find a good used Climb (wood) prop Just to use from time to time.

[kyleb]

A climb prop is far better and safer than a cruise

I'm thinking about a wood prop (to save weight), could you explain "far better & safer"?

I'll jump in with an answer... Climb props are arguably better and safer because they allow the engine to turn faster for a given prop diameter and airspeed, generating a little more power, which allows these little (relatively underpowered) airplanes to climb just a bit better. On a hot day at gross weight, a climb prop will give you a little more margin to clear the trees at the end of the runway.

The downside is that you'll lose a little speed for a given RPM setting, but if you're looking at Aeroncas, speed isn't your primary consideration anyway.

[skyking3286]

Yep, like Kleb said...the climb prop will be much safer and you aren't losing all that much going from 80 to 78 mph... a good headwind will do that much and more!

What you don't want in these planes (remember that they all are descendants of the Aeronca C-2, a powered glider) is to be climbing out on a hot day and looking
at trees that aren't going downward in your windshield sight picture. I doubt if anything you would gain from a cruise pitched prop would give you peace of mind in that situation and given the Aeronca accident database, the number of planes that crashed because they didn't get there quick enough is zero. The number that crash in stall-spin in climb, hit trees on takeoff, land and can't get out of the landing strip...well, I could go on, but case proved.


Mark

[7AC-JC]

Is it true that if you have a prop strike with a wooden prop, you are not required to automatically tear down the engine for inspection? (Due to it breaking apart and thus taking the brunt of the damage as opposed to a metal prop.)

[joea]

Correct but would still look at the engine very carefully even with a prop strike with a wooden prop. Checking the crankshaft and a good look-over. Then would run it for a bit, change the oil and put 10 hours or so then do an oil sample check.

With a metal prop its coming apart, no questions asked IMHO.

[Nathan K. Hammond]

Is it true that if you have a prop strike with a wooden prop, you are not required to automatically tear down the engine for inspection?

False, sort of. A prop strike, regardless of wood, metal, composite; requires a tear down ON A PART 135 AIRCRAFT. Part 91 ops (like all of us) are not mandated to do the tear down; but anytime a prop gets chewed up, I'd want to split the case.

nkh

[Captgrumps]

A prop strike is a prop strike. Nathan is correct. I just sent off a crank that was used, supposed to be ok according to the person I got it from--No prop strike according to them--but it has two cracks one behind the hub and one on the slinger. Maybe not a prop strike but the type damage you get from a nose over. It is all in the symantics.

Doug

[jc pacquin]

I have a 72/40 seaplane climb (wood) prop on a 65 hp cont. It was specd by Sensich. It works very well. I also agree.....a prop strike IS a prop strike, wood or metal. JP

[joea]

Ok, I stand corrected!