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Flying in the rain WAS: Proper prop

 
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Michel



Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway

PostPosted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:27 pm    Post subject: Flying in the rain WAS: Proper prop Reply with quote

Quote:
From: Lynn Matteson [lynnmatt(at)jps.net]
If they are not
'modern" somebody better tell Sensenich, because they are 10 weeks
behind in making props to fill orders.

No wonder, I find the Sensenich props very sexy!
Lynn, how does your prop withstand rain? I was told that wood props are not very good at that. My Jabiru wood prop is still okay but I fly very little in rain and if I can't avoid it, I always fly at low RPM.
This leads me to change the subject of the title and ask you all: how do you fly in rain? I mean, beside the fact that visibility is very reduced, what are your experience with rain?

I ask because we have a very wet summer here in Norway and I have already cancelled two fly-ins because of the rain.

Cheers,
Michel Verheughe
Norway
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200
<pre><b><font size color="#000000" face="courier new,courier">


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Lynn Matteson



Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

PostPosted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:34 am    Post subject: Flying in the rain WAS: Proper prop Reply with quote

I've flown in rain only about 4-6 times, and that was minimal rain.
Just a brief little shower, so visibility wasn't all that bad. My
leading edge is showing signs of very slight pitting, but I attribute
this to mostly the sandy dirt conditions that you get on some grass
strips. This pitting I refer to is like the edge was hit with a
sandblaster...pitted but smooth, but not polished any longer like
when it was new. I'm going to check with the Sensenich folks at
Oshkosh next week and see if their new composite ground-adjustable
prop is out of flight testing yet...it is for the Jabiru and Rotax
engines.

Lynn Matteson
Kitfox IV Speedster
Jabiru 2200
Status: flying w/547+ hrs


On Jul 22, 2008, at 2:23 AM, Michel Verheughe wrote:

Quote:
> From: Lynn Matteson [lynnmatt(at)jps.net]
> If they are not
> 'modern" somebody better tell Sensenich, because they are 10 weeks
> behind in making props to fill orders.

No wonder, I find the Sensenich props very sexy!
Lynn, how does your prop withstand rain? I was told that wood props
are not very good at that. My Jabiru wood prop is still okay but I
fly very little in rain and if I can't avoid it, I always fly at
low RPM.
This leads me to change the subject of the title and ask you all:
how do you fly in rain? I mean, beside the fact that visibility is
very reduced, what are your experience with rain?

I ask because we have a very wet summer here in Norway and I have
already cancelled two fly-ins because of the rain.

Cheers,
Michel Verheughe
Norway
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200
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List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List</a>
forums.matronics.com</a>
www.matronics.com/contribution</a>

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Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM
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n85ae



Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 403

PostPosted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:36 am    Post subject: Re: Flying in the rain WAS: Proper prop Reply with quote

Michel -

The rain will remove the leading edge of the prop given enough time.
I flew mine in moderate rain for about 20 minutes and found the finish
at the tips was pretty well pitted. It would be just a matter of time to
do real damage. I think flying in the rain because you have to get
through it is probably ok, but I would not intentionally fly in it with
the wood prop.

Jeff


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n85ae



Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 403

PostPosted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:55 pm    Post subject: Re: Flying in the rain WAS: Proper prop Reply with quote

Michel -

My Sensenich has a translucent tan leading edge. As I recall it is some
kind of Urethane (but not 100% sure). I flew mine in a pretty solid rain
once, and after the flight I noticed it felt rough and looking at the
urethane it looked like it had been sandblasted near the tip. I got some
clear protective tape from the auto parts store for use on the hood of
a car for protecting from stone chips. I flew with this for a year wrapped
from the leading edge to about 40mm back on both front and back sides
over the urethane. This flew a couple time in light rain and held up well.
After about a year it started coming loose so I peeled it off and now fly
without.

My conclusion is that the wood prop can handle rain, but you'll need to
to keep it recoated as the water will definetly strip the finish from the
leading edge out by the tip pretty quickly.

I thought about laying on a layer of glass cloth at the tip along the leading
edge using West System epoxy as a sacrificial layer that could be
periodically sanded off and replaced if need be. Never did do it, but it
would probably work.

Regards,
Jeff.


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Don McIntosh



Joined: 02 Jul 2007
Posts: 24
Location: Sandpoint, Idaho

PostPosted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:44 am    Post subject: Re: Flying in the rain WAS: Proper prop Reply with quote

Lynn,
The Sensenich ground adjustable composite prop has been out for a while now and is being used quite a bit. I know a guy in Colorado has one on a IV with the Jabiru engine and is quite pleased. I have seen them on about 3 Jabiru aircraft and I am told Jabiru is having to induce drag to keep the airplanes Sport Pilot legal. I bought one from John McBean, so if you want one, go get it now!


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Don McIntosh
Kitfox Series 7
Jabiru 3300
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Lynn Matteson



Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

PostPosted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:23 pm    Post subject: Flying in the rain WAS: Proper prop Reply with quote

Really? Their website says the Jabiru and Rotax ground adjustable is
currently undergoing flight testing....maybe they haven't updated
their site, and I haven't called to inquire, either.
Are any of the 3 that you saw the 2200 engine?

Lynn Matteson
Kitfox IV Speedster
Jabiru 2200
Status: flying w/547+ hrs


On Jul 23, 2008, at 11:44 AM, Don McIntosh wrote:

Quote:

<don(at)contractorsnorthwest.com>

Lynn,
The Sensenich ground adjustable composite prop has been out for a
while now and is being used quite a bit. I know a guy in Colorado
has one on a IV with the Jabiru engine and is quite pleased. I have
seen them on about 3 Jabiru aircraft and I am told Jabiru is having
to induce drag to keep the airplanes Sport Pilot legal. I bought
one from John McBean, so if you want one, go get it now!

--------
Don McIntosh
Kitfox Series 7 under construction
Jabiru 3300


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http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=194547#194547




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Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM
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