Paul,
In my over 20 years dealing with the Airmaster (and Europa) I think my webs
ite has all the information you need on choosing a constant speed propeller
. (Keep in mind this is not a variable pitch only propeller, it is a const
ant speed propeller.)
The Europa with a 914 and Airmaster AP 330 three blade or AP420 two blade t
ransforms the aircraft into a good economical 10,000+ ft cruiser. The 64 i
nch propeller length is considered maximum for the Europa due to ground cle
arance. I would not go any longer.
On the 912S (100 HP) Rotax, it is excellent for shorter takeoff and gives y
ou the best for optimum low altitude cruise in the normally aspirated Rotax
. With a fuel leaning kit (HacMan), fuel efficiency improves at cruise at
7500 feet and you can pick up a bit of speed also. Your country regulation
s must be adhered to concerning modifications to an engine.
Attached is my now very old and hated by the prop blade manufacturers infor
mation pdf on choosing the right blade for constant speed propeller operati
ons on the Rotax. Nothing good happens after 67 to 68 inches on a Rotax ev
en with a constant speed hub, but people keep trying. It is a short read a
nd goes into why this is true. In all honesty, blade manufacturer performa
nce is negated as the "performance is in the hub". Changing the pitch with
speed is the key to performance. I'm including the installation manual fr
om Airmaster as well for your review.
The Airmaster is more expensive than some of our European competitor prop b
uilders but when it comes to ease of installation, builder maintenance, rel
iability and quick turn around on parts, the Airmaster has never left me st
uck out. It is amazingly reliable. Service the hub once a year, change th
e brushes around 300-500 hours and look at your blades for damage as on any
propeller. Yes, you have to maintain an aircraft. No engine, prop, or el
ectronic do dad works forever as humidity, age and lack of use or attention
often shows up. The controller is almost bullet proof, but switches can g
et corroded if kept near the salt water or the plane has sat in a humid env
ironment for months on end without use. Simply clean your brush ring, clic
k and wiggle switches that may corrode and if necessary, call a dealer or A
irmaster direct with your issue and you will find troubleshooting is very s
imple on any electric constant speed. The hub is strong and reliable, and
the motor and switches in the hub are better than those 20 years ago. Airm
aster is constantly improving their product.
Final thoughts:
The two blade AP420 is lighter at 19 pounds, and the three blade AP330 is s
moother at 26 pounds. Speed difference is negligible ranging from 0-5 Knot
s depending on altitude, RPM, and engine. The trigear cowl removal is easi
er with the two blade on the Europa. If you have a Rotax belt drive altern
ator, use the mini-slip ring through the prop shaft. Note that there can b
e some interference from these alternators windings but there is an easy wo
rk around for those noisy field windings on these Denso type alternators.
There is no problem with the Rotax / Ducati alternator or interference with
the propeller.
I like to fly and look myself at equipment before I buy. I talk to owners,
but still do my own research. I suggest you do the same. You will be har
d pressed to find a disappointed Airmaster owner. A rule of thumb is if th
e plane looks nasty and is not well kept, the owner may not be taking best
care of his airplane, but somehow the Airmaster soldiers on even when negle
cted.
In the UK, your nearest dealer is Dirk Oyen in Belgium. He will set you up
with a demo and or there are many UK owners with the Airmaster. He is very
hands on and well versed in the Airmaster operations and any maintenance.
Contact for Dirk: Hemelrijk 61, Heusen-Zolder, Limburg 3550, Belgium. E
mail: dirk.oyen1@telenet.be<mailto:dirk.oyen1@telenet.be> , Phone: +32 477
25 80 28
Best Regards,
Bud Yerly
Custom Flight Creations
US Airmaster Dealer
________________________________
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com <owner-europa-list-server@matr
onics.com> on behalf of Paul Hawkins <pwhawkinsbuilders@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 6:28 AM
Subject: Europa-List: Recommendations VP Prop
Hi chaps
I=92m looking for recommendations for a VP prop for my trike XS Europa, I n
eed help on this one I would appreciate your response.
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