New Propeller being tested for P-82s...

[Warbirdnerd]

Bloomer, Wisc. (December 16, 2010) Flight Resource, LLC, world’s largest volume MT- Propeller distributer, is excited to announce the successful flight testing on a newly developed 4-bladed composite propeller to be utilized on the Allison powered P-82 Twin Mustang. This propeller, governor and accumulator system was designed and built including a control system for use on the only two remaining Twin Mustangs that are being restored to flying condition.

The 11-foot diameter, 4-blade propellers include full feathering capability and still maintain the period look of the original steel propellers, using MT’s patented natural composite structure. The hub is CNC milled from a single billet of aluminum. The governors were designed from scratch and the spinner is Kevlar.

The prop was mounted and flown on a P-51 Mustang (Polar Bear) for five successful flights in December. Initial results indicated improved climb and cruise performance over the metal 3-blade prop that normally pulls this P-51. The propeller and governor will now undergo the vigorous testing required to complete FAA and EASA certification.

Flight Resource is the US MT Distributor who facilitated these projects. According to Flight Resource’s Senior Partner, John Nielson, “The development of this propeller for such a rare aircraft has been one of the most fun projects we have undertaken.” Nielsen further stated, “With this successful design, MT-Propeller has proven they are now able to supply new generation propellers for V-12 powered vintage aircraft.”

MT-Propeller is no stranger to the design and manufacture of replica propellers. Several rare aircraft continue to please airshow and air racing fans sporting MT-Propellers.

About Flight Resource, LLC

Flight Resource LLC is an authorized distributor of high quality aircraft components. We sell and provide support for several of the worlds state-of-the-art manufacturers. MT Propeller is our premier and most popular product. We also own STC’s for the installation of MT Propellers on over a dozen models of certificated production aircraft. For more information please go to http://www.Flight-Resource.com.

About MT-Propeller

MT-Propeller is a German propeller design, manufacturing & service company based at the Straubing Airport, north of Munich. MT-Propeller has produced over 40,000 blades since 1981 that offer life-unlimited, light weight, and vibration free performance over conventional metal props. STC’s are available for installation of the MT composite propellers on hundreds of models of aircraft ranging from the Cessna 170 up to turbine powered regional airliners. Propellers are sold and serviced though a network of over 30 highly trained distributors. For more information, please go to http://www.MT-Propeller.com.

Found it here:
http://www.amtonline.com/article/articl ... 1&id=12401

[Warbird Kid]

Thats pretty interesting. Not every day you see a A model sporting a 4 blade.

[Iclo]

Yes, and an important step in the return to flying status of a P-82

[Zachary]

Anybody else read Aero-News's version of this story? See here: http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?Cont ... be122df75&

"A P-82 Twin Mustang has been flown with a new, 4-bladed composite prop." Someone needs to do some fact checking next time...

Zack

[bdk]

This may open up some opportunities for a new generation of air racing props for the unlimited category of air racing!

[MX304]

Any word on how the P-82 restoration up north is going? I haven't seen any good updates on it in over a year, and it was getting pretty far along then.

[Taylor Stevenson]

This is great news. I wonder if they will start being able to replace some of the unobtainium props that are needed for some HP fighters.

[warbird1]

Fantastic article and information! Those owners will be very happy with these if they ever have a prop strike.

Does anyone close to this program or the F-82 restorations, know what modifications they are having to do to the engines, gearing, etc. to accommodate these new wooden propellers? I'm sure that all that mass/inertia will certainly have a different effect on the airplane than the original designers intended. How is that being dealt with?

[warbird1]

Any word on how the P-82 restoration up north is going? I haven't seen any good updates on it in over a year, and it was getting pretty far along then.

How about updates on BOTH restorations, for that matter!

[brucev]

Fantastic article and information! Those owners will be very happy with these if they ever have a prop strike.

Does anyone close to this program or the F-82 restorations, know what modifications they are having to do to the engines, gearing, etc. to accommodate these new wooden propellers? I'm sure that all that mass/inertia will certainly have a different effect on the airplane than the original designers intended. How is that being dealt with?

MT uses a wooden core? i would think the MT props will be lighter than the originals (wooden core or not) not sure what you are getting at?

[warbird1]

Fantastic article and information! Those owners will be very happy with these if they ever have a prop strike.

Does anyone close to this program or the F-82 restorations, know what modifications they are having to do to the engines, gearing, etc. to accommodate these new wooden propellers? I'm sure that all that mass/inertia will certainly have a different effect on the airplane than the original designers intended. How is that being dealt with?

MT uses a wooden core? i would think the MT props will be lighter than the originals (wooden core or not) not sure what you are getting at?

What I'm getting at is that the new props are wood, the old ones metal. Surely there are different physics involved for both? Unless they can exactly replicate the same weight distribution, density, and inertia of the old ones, it HAS to affect something. My question is - is that effect something that is significant, involving any modifications anywhere, or is it negligible so that it's a direct "bolt on", with no modifications needed whatsoever to the engine or any of it's associated assemblies/accessories ?

[Dan K]

Fantastic article and information! Those owners will be very happy with these if they ever have a prop strike.

Does anyone close to this program or the F-82 restorations, know what modifications they are having to do to the engines, gearing, etc. to accommodate these new wooden propellers? I'm sure that all that mass/inertia will certainly have a different effect on the airplane than the original designers intended. How is that being dealt with?

MT uses a wooden core? i would think the MT props will be lighter than the originals (wooden core or not) not sure what you are getting at?

What I'm getting at is that the new props are wood, the old ones metal. Surely there are different physics involved for both? Unless they can exactly replicate the same weight distribution, density, and inertia of the old ones, it HAS to affect something. My question is - is that effect something that is significant, involving any modifications anywhere, or is it negligible so that it's a direct "bolt on", with no modifications needed whatsoever to the engine or any of it's associated assemblies/accessories ?

Umm... wouldn't that have required modification to "Polar Bear" as the test vehicle?

(I'm just sayin')


BTW, did the pic of "PB" remind anyone else of Woody Edmundon's old A-36 NX4E?

http://www.airrace.com/images/15%20Edmo ... 1-A%20.jpg

http://aafo.com/hangartalk/attachment.p ... 1286315993

[warbird1]

Umm... wouldn't that have required modification to "Polar Bear" as the test vehicle?

(I'm just sayin')

I don't know, as I'm not a mechanic or a structural engineer. Maybe they did modify Polar Bear. That's why I asked the question. Do you think it was a stupid question to ask?

[oz rb fan]

i'm pretty sure most operational spitfire's now have woodern prop's (supplied by hoffman iirc)

[Mark V]

i'm pretty sure most operational spitfire's now have woodern prop's (supplied by hoffman iirc)

They do - but then they did in period too! The Hurricane is probably a better example of prop interchangeability, Canadian built examples flying with Hamilton Standard metal props and UK builts flying with Rotol wood composite props (both three bladers).

Oh and Bill Greenwod's Spitfire flew with a 4-blade metal Rotol prop from a Buchon for a while in 1968.