Lancair Live!

Lancair ES Builder needs Advice!!

Its that time to order the Propeller/Spinner etc for the Lancair ES and I am at the FWF stage and about to fit the Cowls. Finally close to finishing!

I have a Lycoming normally aspirated IO-540-J2BD MA, S/N L-7328-61A, 350Hp Engine installed in the Lancair. This is the same engine as the Piper Navajo and Aerostar 600P without the Turbo Charger!

I was considering to purchase a New MT Propeller as I have purchased similar before (RV and Glasair) hydraulically driven. This will include the Spinner and Backing plate. I have a governor on the Engine.

I Note: Lancair originally recommended the Hartzell three-bladed propeller (PHC-J3YF-1RF/F7693DF) prop for the Continental IO-550N engine. This had the composite spinner (1054-1), backing plate (1054). However later they changed to the Lycoming I0-540 Engine at 310 to 350 Hp with a recommended Hartzell Hartzell Propeller HC-H3YF-1RFX/F7693DF+2X at 76 -80 inches and blade Angles of Angle Low/ High (12.6 / 35.5)?

Notably many Lancair ES and Mako owners have apprently chosen an MT propeller based on weight and performance. Seems like a logical and sound choice.

So some primilaries can someone kindly advise what the size of the Spinner Backplate is on the Lancair ES so I can pre-position my Cowls for the Propeller??

And, team, what Propeller do you recommend and if I may, why?

Thanks


Perry McNeil M: +61 450 964 926
Aircraft Engine : Lycoming IO-540-J2BDMA, S/N L-7328-61A, 350HP
Aircraft Make : Lancair
Aircraft Model : Lancair Super ES
Aircraft Serial : 100
List Part Numbers: S/N L-7328-61A, 350HP

Perry,

Welcome to LancairLive! I can’t help you with Hub specifics, but I can give you my opinion on the MT Prop. I think the MT is super-smooth, but it wears much faster than I think it should. I’ve flown several planes with MT props, and all of them wear with pitting, paint wrinkling, chipping, etc. Props are around $18-20k and overhauls around $6-7k.

Regarding prop design, I’d choose the profile that best fits your mission and then compare what each manufacturer offers.

Most of us run the three bladed aluminum prop. There are a handful of people that run the four bladed MT prop. I have to admit that the MT prop looks quite sexy. It’s light and I might even go faster. But all the little rocks and sand on a lot of runways really eat them up. The one thing I do like about my aluminum propeller is that I can take a socket extension and blend the blades when it gets chinks in the aluminum.

There are a couple of other companies that market to experimental aircraft, and I’ve been interested in researching those propellers. I think Hartel also going to or has released a composite propeller.


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Thanks George

Certainly food for thought here in Austrlia with our gravel strips outback!

BTW do you know the size of your Spinner? Just need a measurement for my Cowls and I cannot locate naything in the manuals.

I don’t know the size of my spinner. But I plan to go out there today and I could take some measurements. I think there’s a standard part number for it that might give the dimensions, but I’ll try to remember to take measurements of the diameter and the length.


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Perry McNeil wrote:Thanks George

Certainly food for thought here in Austrlia with our gravel strips outback!

BTW do you know the size of your Spinner? Just need a measurement for my Cowls and I cannot locate naything in the manuals.

I never made it to the hangar. I hope to tomorrow. I had to fix a piece of farm equipment


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Ryan Riley wrote: ↑Wed Aug 14, 2024 4:16 am I think the MT is super-smooth, but it wears much faster than I think it should. I’ve flown several planes with MT props, and all of them wear with pitting, paint wrinkling, chipping, etc.

I have also seen a number of MTs that had blade delamination. One small chip that goes through the outer fiberglass layer allows water into the wood core. MT has told several owners to stop flying until that is fixed due to structural concerns, even up to potential blade failure. Some were bad enough that the entire prop had to be sent back to MT. I’ve been flying MTs on everything from Lancairs of all types including Evolutions, Epics, Cirrus, and other light airplanes for more than 15 years, and the more I am around them the less I am impressed with the props and the company.

George Wehrung wrote:I don’t know the size of my spinner. But I plan to go out there today and I could take some measurements. I think there’s a standard part number for it that might give the dimensions, but I’ll try to remember to take measurements of the diameter and the length.


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Perry,

My spinner is 16” in diameter and 19” long


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Thanks George

That Helps greatly.

Good luck! Please post pics!


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