Jump to content

8 bladed Prop


Guest
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hey everyone, 1st time poster. Anyway i was watching AFN and they had a piece on a new C-130 8 bladed prop that is being designed for the NY ANG flying the LC-130\'s. They said it was to help them by giving them more power/thrust for taking off in snow and to stop using the JATO rockets due to $$$. Can anyone shine more light on this development and does anyone know if these new props will go on E\'s and H\'s? I\'m guessing they will have to mod the valve housing alittle :unsure:

Thanks

Joe

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 52
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

I think it\'s cool the Air Force is finally buying off a little on the 8-bladed prop, but wouldn\'t it have been cheaper to borrow Snow Aviaton\'s aircraft rather than modding an H-model slick for the sole purpose of using it for test flights? Maybe they wanted to mod an H-model since the current LC-130\'s are H\'s, but I\'m sure they could have put -15\'s on the E-model already moded and still came up with some accurate flight charictaristics.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is rumor, mind you, and old rumor at that, that the J-model stick-shaker system is really a stick pusher system mandated by FAA due to excessively high AOA (which in turn was caused by increased airflow as you mention) during certification testing.

Any J-model bubbas out there that can clarify?

As for the multi-bladed props, I heard Snow\'s stuff was originally stiff-armed by USAF due to very high Vmca...again, rumor, but it wouldn\'t surprise me...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Gang,

I was one three AF FE\'s to serve with VXE-6 in Antartica (\'88-\'89 & \'89-\'90) During my time with VXE-6 we never used JATO, it was available if we needed it though. I am just curious if the NY ANG is using JATO in Antartica on a regular basis? I\'m glad the AF is testing the 8 bladed prop. I wish we had it when I was flying.

Bruce

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds like the 8-bladed prop would really help on those hot-day, high-elevation, heavyweight take-offs, too....but with today\'s awareness of center-wing structural limitations, over-torques may become more frequent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Regarding the J stall characteristics, they are rather poor. Lockheed instructors (and its also mentioned in the fligh manual on memory)informed us that the J, due to new airflow characteristics caused by the new props, when stalled had a tendancy to roll towards inverted and onto its back.

The stall warning system in the J is a three tier system. Audibal warning \"STALL, STALL, STALL\" followed by stick shaker if no action has been taken, then if the aircraft is still in danger, a stick pusher is activated to reduce the AOA.

The AOA vane is used along with data from the ADC to allow the mission computer to initate the stall warning process.

The system can be disabled by crew for when they are flying low level for example, although i think the audibal warning will occur either way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can\'t figure out why the USAF/ANG is going to test the NP2000 propeller system on a non-ski equipped C-130 when the article states that the NP2000 is supposed to be for the LC-130\'s.

Typical Air Force double speak....

\"We chose to use the (WYANG) aircraft because they are better suited for Edwards,\" he said. \"The New York planes are outfitted with skis and other equipment for Antarctica. Once we prove this works, we\'ll retrofit the (NYANG) C-130.\"

I wonder if the non-USAF/ANG LC-130\'s (73-3300, 76-3301, 76-3302 and 93-1096) are going to get the NP2000 props.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Because for the initial tests, a ski-equipped airplane isn\'t necessary & intruduces more logistical issues for the test team. Edwards AFB is not equipped to maintain C-130s...SPO issue there. The more basic you keep the airplane, the fewer parts we have to worry about waiting around to come in. We just waited over a week to get a motor here!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • 3 months later...

The performance results we\'re coming up with at this time do not seem to be even close to Hamilton Sundstrand\'s 25% guarantee. Next week we\'re de-modifying the aircraft & hopefully perform some of the same tests so that we can objectively compare numbers.

Performance aside, I love the way this aircraft feels. The noise & vibration levels are reduced in a big way. Maintenance would benefit as well. There shouldn\'t be much of a reason to ever change the prop anymore until you have to pull the motor, due to the ability to change individual blades & the demonstrated reliability.

Anyway, I wish I could make the call, but I can\'t.

We\'ll see.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

thanks for the info, anytime frame on the compleation of the \"apples for apples\" testing and wheather or not the NP2000 props are still being looked at for the LC130 Skl birds.

is there much involed demod\'ing the aircraft, is it a case of once the aircraft has been mod\'d for the NP2000 prop it is relatitivly easy to swap between the 4 and the 8 bladed props

cheers kevin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I attended one of Snow Avaition\'s customer brief\'s a couple years ago and they said they were on some of the initial tests at Edwards. I do seem to recall overhearing a side discussion about the Snow C-130\'s configuration (other mods Snow was pushing) that probably made the aircraft unsuitable for testing. This is old info and not sure if it is accurate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am wondering how many test flight did they do with the new prop and valve housing system installed before removing the prop. Also what kind of performance info did you gather on take off and landing and short field work besides cruise information. The reason I am asking it seems like they just finished hanging the props on and now you are taking them back off and when will the test data be released or can you give out some info.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share


×
×
  • Create New...