ErichKeane
Well Known Member
Hopefully all will go well, and 331RV will be leaving for Oshkosh Friday! We're finally finishing up repair and paperwork after our accident a little while ago.
Just curious as to why you changed the prop from the standard two-bladed Sensenich?
The only hard part will be the paperwork through the FAA I think
Having experienced a switch from 2 blades to 3 blades prop on my trainer (Allegro 2000) I am a converted to three blades, just for the sake of smoothness. The easier blades adjustment and cool look just add to the appeal. It would be interesting to have VANs opinion on the matter. Did you discuss this with them before making the switch?
What paperwork did you file with the FAA? I'm thinking just the 8730-1, right?
I'm sure that I'd like one too. Hope that your performance figures are good and that Van's will be interested and will offer a three blade option eventually. In my opinion, the 'cool factor' might even sell a few more RV-12 kits if a three blade option was offered from Van's. I am interested to know how much the three blade prop/spinner combination costs if you can divulge the answer. Thanks for the nice post!
The "word on the street" says that a three blade will be smoother and take off quicker, but will suffer a small loss of top speed compared with the two blade. For me the smoothness is worth the change.
long term effects of a two blade on the gearbox may not be fully known yet either.
I may be dreaming here but I would like to purchase a three blade prop from Van's as part of the kit. How about it, Van's?
After developing a spinner installation, and then installing the 3 blade propeller that Sensenich provide, on to N412RV, the decision was made not to offer it.
Testing showed that it would induce enough of a performance compromise, that a new POH would have had to be produced (I am not talking about just a couple Kts, or a few FPM in climb).
I know Erich claims they are getting equal or better performance with their 3 blade.
The only explanations I see possible are that he/they haven't done an equivalent level of detailed testing, or they have a different propeller than Sensenich supplied for evaluation.