airplane a 2 blade prop is more efficient as the third blade is only more drag as the extra bite you might get from the third blade is not
I imagine this discussion like many others can go on for quite awhile, since there is as much evidence both ways, but I will site in defense of multi-blades, every King Air Beechcraft has made, along with every Beech 1900 transport plane in service. They produce speeds much higher than the KR2 or S is designed to see, and all use a 4 bladed prop. Granted they are also using adjustable props, but I think the key is to match the number of blades to the horsepower available, and length capable, in order to positively say 2 or 3 or 4 is right for the application. My take is that the higher horsepower applications have to use 3 or 4 bladed props in order to be able to make thrust from the available hp, because they will either have to have too long of a 2 bladed prop, or they will make a 2 bladed stall or overspeed with just too much hp. Many air racers I have seen have 3 or 4 bladed props. Even helicopters have more than 2 blades depending on their hp and lift/thrust needs. Multi-blades is definitely smoother and easier to balance. My research shows that if you have the hp, and want the climb rate, 3 or 4 blades is quieter, smoother, and a 3 blade will produce approximately 15% more thrust, or behave like a 17% longer prop, and a 4 bladed will be close to 20% according one author I read (I will look it up if anyone is curious). That is why I will run a 3 bladed Warp Drive. I have read of two netters already that have run first a 3 bladed Warp Drive then a Sterba with no appreciable increase in speed, but probably a drop in climb rate. Colin Rainey brokerpi...@bellsouth.net
