WIX Archives
P-38 and two critical engines...
Posted by Joe Scheil on Fri Mar 07, 2003 11:26:52 AM
In reply top Re: P-38 posted by Steve Hinton on Fri Mar 07, 2003 09:34:38 AM
Just to add to Steve's post...
Another aircraft that has had both inward and outward turning propellers is the Ted Smith Aerostar which has inward turning propellers on most models, but outward turning on the fastest one, the 720. The word was that inward turning propellers give better single engine performance as the downward blade has a shorter moment arm, but with the down blade away from the fuselage on the outer panel, higher speed was possible. (I don't really know, but it is fast!) Aerostars are rare but highly valued on the used market, with prices beyond the usual range of normal Barons and 340's. Interestingly it seemed the P-38 may have been one of the very few twins to try nearly every combination of propeller rotation. As an aside, my Seminole time told me that in reality both engines were fairly important with only 180 hp to deal with on a warm day...
JOE