Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Turbo Props

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Turbo Props

    Just wondering - saw a recent post on JP of a Grumman E-2C Hawkeye. This 'plane has 8 blades on each prop. Question - what do 8 blades do that 4 blades won't ?
    RobB


  • #2
    E-2's have 4 bladed props. The only thing I know of that had/has 8 blades is the TU-95, TU-114, and AN-22. 8 blades because they are counter rotating props.
    Bite me Airways.....

    Comment


    • #3
      ^They are new generation E2 Hawkeyes and Lockheed P3 Orion in the pipeline. The new props come up with more blades for
      - improved performences in terms of speed and operational range
      - lower fuel consumption
      - lower noise emission
      To get those, I also understand the 6 and 8 new blades are shorter than the original 4 which also allow more RPMs and higher torques with the power plants.
      Alain
      Thanks for visiting
      *Avimage's Monthly Slide list *
      *JetPhotos*
      Airliners*Pbase.com

      Comment


      • #4
        Yep, the new E-2's have 8 bladed props.
        Check:
        “The only time you have too much fuel is when you’re on fire.”

        Erwin

        Comment


        • #5
          Here's how I understand it, anybody feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. If the tips of a propeller break the sound barrier, they become really ineficient and dont make as much thrust. So if you're putting on a more powerful engine, and you keep the 4 bladed prop, odds are the prop is going to spin faster. Somehow you have to increase the surface area of all of the propeller blades to increase thrust without increasing the RPM by too much. You can't really just make the blades longer because that woud increase the speed of the prop tips, so eventually you just have to throw another blade or two on there.

          Comment


          • #6
            Turboprops are just like any constant speed prop. To control the RPM, you vary the blade angle. Add more power, let the prop take a bigger bite of air. If you add more blades, you can still add more power. Downside of adding blades is that you're adding drag as well.
            Bite me Airways.....

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by LRJet Guy
              Turboprops are just like any constant speed prop. To control the RPM, you vary the blade angle. Add more power, let the prop take a bigger bite of air. If you add more blades, you can still add more power. Downside of adding blades is that you're adding drag as well.
              But wouldn't there become a point where simply increasing the pitch of the prop to increase the resistance would become less efficient than adding another blade?

              Comment


              • #8
                Yes Joe, but it's exactly like any other airfoil design.....lift versus drag. There comes a point where the airflow over each prop balde becomes turbulent and drag increases dramatically.

                On the King Airs I flew we had the props changed from three blade to four bladed versions, part of the 'Raisbeck' mods. The main reason was to increase tip clearance on rough surfaces. This also increased clearance from the fuselage making the interior quiter. Takeoff and climb perfomance inproved, however cruise speed for a given torque reduced.

                Here's an article on the mod:

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by uy707
                  ^They are new generation E2 Hawkeyes and Lockheed P3 Orion in the pipeline....
                  I'm not quite sure what 'the pipeline' is, but there won't be any more P-3's, because they are on their way out, to be replaced by the MMA(converted 737NG's)
                  Cheers,
                  330

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    So Lockheed dumps the new generation Orion ....
                    Alain
                    Thanks for visiting
                    *Avimage's Monthly Slide list *
                    *JetPhotos*
                    Airliners*Pbase.com

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      One of the main reasons for the 8 bladed props is that the 4 bladed ones were no longer produced. With the 8 bladed unit each blade can be replaced individually whereas the 4 bladed had to be replaced as a unit. There is a very good article on the future of the E-2 in the December issue of Air International.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Another one to come up new with 8-blades will be the Airbus A400M mid size four engined military transport. A first set of propellers are undergoing developpment trials.
                        Alain
                        Thanks for visiting
                        *Avimage's Monthly Slide list *
                        *JetPhotos*
                        Airliners*Pbase.com

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I hope the resonance issues that affected the C-130J don't also cause problems with the A400M.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by uy707
                            Another one to come up new with 8-blades will be the Airbus A400M mid size four engined military transport. A first set of propellers are undergoing developpment trials.
                            Alain

                            YES - of which the South African Airforce has placed orders for
                            RobB

                            Comment

                            Working...
                            X