Microlighters

To expand on a question asked on the Jabi propellor thread, what are the opinions and experiences using de Necker props? Any information using any engine is sought, but particularly interested in the de Necker/Aerovee combination.

De Necker props are brilliant. Pieter is very knowledgeable. You phone him, tell him the engine, gearbox ratio, plane, length of prop required, and type of flying (i.e. cruising, climbing, circuits etc) and he gives you the best option for your needs.

Two blade wooden props are rougher (i.e. vibrate) more than 3 blade composites. This is normal and sometimes assuring to know you can feel the engine running. You get used to it very quickly.

However if you do have a prop strike, they are quite meaty and a good solid strike will do some gearbox damage

You will also get the best service. He is very helpfull.
Vernon.

I like the Piet props. Awesome experience for me. he matched prop to engine....

Morph - just something interesting I learned about wooden props and why you have this 'roughness'. For the wood to be used there has to be around 12 to 17 percent moisture (water) in the wood when the prop is carved. It then gets sealed so the water content is basically trapped. Now when you stop the prop after flying and you leave it sitting upright for instance - the water will basically accumulate in the lowest tip so it's actually a little out of balance. So in aircraft that is in daily use you have less of that as an issue but planes not being used regularly it is more of a problem. Wood is a 'living' material and thus it will never have the inert 'perfection' of synthetic props but yes - they are actually very strong and sometimes perform better than the plastic fantastics. I personally like wooden props and they are almost always cheaper.

Read the info at this link.

http://www.poly-fiber.com/sensenich.htm

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek

Stephan van Tonder wrote: It then gets sealed so the water content is basically trapped. Now when you stop the prop after flying and you leave it sitting upright for instance - the water will basically accumulate in the lowest tip so it's actually a little out of balance. .

Absolutely. It is thus advisable to store wooden props horizontally. This includes when you park your trike, just set the prop horizontal

I also love wooden props, they are an absolute thing of beauty