Prop selection

[mike.smith]

I'm looking to replace my ground-adjustable Sensenich with something else. The Sensinich never seemed to do well for me no matter where I set the pitch. I know this question has been asked MANY times, but what props have you had good luck with on your AeroVee? How about about the current W54JV5L-44C prop from AeroConversions? I definitely want a composite exterior rather than wood. I do basic aerobatics, $100 hamburgers, and the occasional long trip like out to OSH. A little of everything.

[gammaxy]

I noticed nobody has responded yet. I have the prince p-tip 54x46 (got a good deal on it from Barnstormers). I'm happy with it but suspect the Sensenich 54x44 you mention will allow you to turn higher RPMs and use more power on climbout than I can. I wouldn't hesitate to use the Sensenich.

I'm not familiar with the ground adjustable propeller. Intuitively, an adjustable propeller is probably somewhat of a compromise everywhere other than the design point, but I'd still expect it to be close in performance. My only concern is you'd spend the money on a new propeller and have the same trouble you are currently having with the adjustable one.

[marsolgp]

Mike
I owned the Sensenich ground adjustable for quite a few hours.... initially with the Aerovee naturally aspirated and later with the turbo. I also flew the acft with 3 different fixed pitch Sensenich props (one offered by Sonex for the NA Aerovee, and both climb and cruise props for the turbo Aerovee).

My favorite was definitely the Ground Adjustable..... That being said, there was one issue. In my opinion, the ground adjustable was designed for the turbo. With the supplied adjustment pins, (on the normally aspirated Aerovee) I could never get a satisfactory static RPM. The prop was always too 'coarse'. I went ahead and made my own adjustment pins that were smaller than the '0' pin supplied and got the RPM up and performance followed. Performance now matched the fixed pitch prop, I was happy with it....

Then I installed the turbo. And against Sonex's advise, I installed the Ground adjustable again. This time I used the pins supplied by Sensenich. What a difference. I could choose cruise, climb or anything in between..... I was very happy with the performance.

I had no issues with the prop and flew for another 100 hours with it.... then, I succumbed to 'pressure' from Sonex and Sensenich and traded the Ground adjustable for both the cruise and climb versions of Sensenich's Turbo props. I have now flown with both and can report NO performance improvement over the Ground adjustable.

It was so much more convenient to just adjust blade angles than to replace propellers..... I'd definitely think twice before selling it, especially if you keep your engine normally aspirated (where the prop is still 'legal'). Look into repitching the prop either with protractor or smaller 'pitch' pins

[rizzz]

...
especially if you keep your engine normally aspirated (where the prop is still 'legal').
...

Would you mind elaborating on this statement? Has the ground adjustable prop been deemed "illegal" for use with the turbo AeroVee?
I think I missed that one...

[marsolgp]

No, it's not illegal... after all we are experimental and pretty much anything is 'legal'. Sonex stopped offering the ground adjustable prop due to some issues they came across while using it on their turbo Aerovee. When I asked about it, they (Jeremy) recommended I not use it with my turbo, it was however, O.K. for the normally aspirated engine.

[MichaelFarley56]

I know this question has been asked MANY times, but what props have you had good luck with on your AeroVee?

For what it's worth, I first flew my (at the time) non-turbo AeroVee with the factory recommended Sensenich for the first 50 hours. I wasn't happy with the performance so I switched to a Prince P-Tip 54 X 44 and loved it. I'd still have it now except for adding the turbo so I now have the P-Tip 54 X 50.

For you though I strongly recommend the P-Tip 54 X 44!

[fastj22]

Prince P-tips are gorgeous and I'm very happy with mine. Just saying.

[Sonex1517]

Me too. My Prince P tip is the source of a lot of conversations when people see my airplane.

Lonnie is also a great guy to deal with, and runs a veteran-owned family business.

Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
N1517S

[Bruce593SX]

Mike
I owned the Sensenich ground adjustable for quite a few hours.... initially with the Aerovee naturally aspirated and later with the turbo. I also flew the acft with 3 different fixed pitch Sensenich props (one offered by Sonex for the NA Aerovee, and both climb and cruise props for the turbo Aerovee).

......

I had no issues with the prop and flew for another 100 hours with it.... then, I succumbed to 'pressure' from Sonex and Sensenich and traded the Ground adjustable for both the cruise and climb versions of Sensenich's Turbo props. I have now flown with both and can report NO performance improvement over the Ground adjustable.

Please elaborate on your experience with the Turbo Climb vs Cruise prop. I'm ready to order the prop for my Turbo and am having a hard time deciding!

[marsolgp]

Without getting into specific numbers (I don't have them handy anyway), my favorite prop of the two is the CRUISE prop.

I initially installed the CLIMB prop and got 'good' numbers. I fly off grass strip and T/O roll was about 800 ft and a timed to climb that figured to about 700 ft/min. Cruise at 30" MAP was about 130 TAS. Note: most of these flights were done last summer....

When I installed the CRUISE prop my T/O roll increased by about 100', climb rate dropped to about 500-600 ft/min but cruise increased to a solid 145 TAS at 30" MAP. Note: most of these flights were from last fall up to this day....

Now, of course cruise speeds will increase with both props when you go to 35", but fuel burn vs speed vs noise increase isn't worth it to me.

Again, this is just my opinion and experience.