Funky Bent Prop Tips

Ztex · **Posted:** Fri Oct 24, 2008 3:56 pm

saw this Baron at my local airport today...I have never noticed tips like this before...I can't seem to find the info online....

What is going on here? Is it for noise reduction? or thrust?

??
Thanks

retroaviation · **Posted:** Fri Oct 24, 2008 3:59 pm

Noise reduction. They're called "Q-tips." Don't know if they work or not. Some folks say yes, others say no.

Gary

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:31 pm

also called condition tag tips

when they first came out, a FAA inspector tagged several planes that had them installed as having prop strikes...............................

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:01 pm

All I know is that at Idle, a Super Cub eqiupped with Q-Tip props whispered as it came in to land. At full throttle, dunno that it helped much.

I wonder too if the improvement is more in the cabin than outside?

b29flteng · **Posted:** Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:28 pm

I saw an A-26 at Oshkosh back in the 70s with tips like that... :shock:

The nose gear started to fold on landing, pulled up and went around, got the gear down and locked, then landed.

brucev · **Posted:** Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:54 pm

they are indeed called Q-tip props made by Hartzell, we have them installed on both of our 414A's. in general they are less raspy sounding at higher power settings than conventional tip propellers making an ever so slight reduction in cabin noise as a result.

Curtis Block · **Posted:** Sat Oct 25, 2008 3:37 pm

We have a couple of Q-tip props kicking around the shop. They are mostly of the homemade variety, though. :lol:

jaybird · **Posted:** Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:04 pm

P-tips:

http://www.princeaircraft.com/

brucev · **Posted:** Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:08 pm

p-tip = experimental only?

Hartzell is no longer marketing their Q-tip props although they do still supply and support them and RAM aircraft has many STC's to install them on 300 & 400 series Cessnas, Barons and some Navajos. The latest and greatest technology is the Sabre tip (McCauley) or SimitarPlus (Hartzell) blade designs. We removed McCauley Black Macs from our second 414 (and installed Q-tips)because we had one too many problems with blade o-rings sealing which appears to be a common problem for certain McCauley props.

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:05 am

Yeah, looks like the P-Tip is an Experimental/LSA thing designed for the Rotax or light Lycoming. Notice that it's a totally different blade shape too.

jaybird · **Posted:** Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:55 am

Yes, experimental only as far as I know. I just threw them out there as another example of the design, and the purpose. I've saw one on Pitts S-1 with a 360 motor.

Ztex · **Posted:** Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:29 pm

Thanks All!

They looked funny to me....but alot of things...ah never mind

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Funky Bent Prop Tips

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