Propeller

No propeller was included in the project purchase. There are a lot of options. Below is a discussion of propeller options in no particular order.

Constant-Speed

A constant-speed propeller is the preferred type of propeller, but it comes with a hefty price tag and, often, a lot of weight.

MT-Propeller

A well-known name in propellers. The downside is: a suitable propeller is almost $18,000 for the hydraulic version or over $22,000 for the electric version, nearly tripling my initial investment. Maybe I’ll try a Catto or something and see how that goes first.

Sterna Aircraft

Manufactured in China, but sales is local. Their blades are hollow with a carbon-fiber “spar” running down the middle.

Airmaster

Ivoprop

Pros: Very low price.

Cons: Pre-flight blade stretch inspections. Constant-speed governor looks pretty amateur.

Community says: not to be used with direct-drive engines.

Author’s opinion: might be fine on a STOL airplane or ultralight. N34ER is a high-speed airplane with a similarly high-energy landing. A failed propeller has a high likelihood of dooming the whole airplane. I’ll stay clear of this manufacturer for this project.

DUC Propellers

Fixed-Pitch and Ground-Adjustable

If the constant-speed propeller is too expensive or heavy, a fixed-pitch or ground-adjustable propeller may be a viable option.

Catto Propeller

Highly-regarded in the community. Ground-adjustable has unique tip for a quieter ride. A ground-adjustable propeller has better resale value than fixed-pitch.

Prince Aircraft Company

The airplane formerly known as N99DF had a propeller built by Lonnie Prince. The airplane always felt underpowered, never making the expected RPM despite Prince insisting the propeller was built properly. Swapping to a Sensenich propeller someone at the airport had in their hangar, the airplane cruised 10kts faster. Perhaps we got a lemon, or the engine is not putting out the rated horsepower, but for now, I’m planning to go elsewhere for my propeller.

DUC Propellers

See FLASH-2 or COBRA.