Jerry,
Full disclosure here, as I am an Airmaster Dealer here in the States:
Woodcomp, Whirlwind and the AP420 are slightly faster at altitudes above
8500 MSL than the three blade AP332.
The Airmaster AP332 with Warp Drive Blades is what most Europa's have.
We are an older kit and we grew with Airmaster, so for the most part,
those of us with six or more years have had the props as they fit like a
glove and our cowl shape is made for their spinner. Other than brushes
we re-grease annually on inspections. The Warp Drive is flat bottomed
and has about 16 degrees of pitch and a long club section at the base.
This cuts back efficiency a bit. A very tough prop, but very easy to
fix dings, basically bulletproof. It is very quiet, even at takeoff
setting of 5750 RPM. Stay away from the Warp Drive tapered blade
period. All my performance problems have been a result of the tapered
blade. Most of the other manufacturers boast they are faster than the
Airmaster but they are comparing their blade to the narrow chord blade
which was heavily sold from the early 90s to 2002. The inertia was
lower for the narrow chord and frankly it was sold to prevent
overstressing the Rotax starter sprag clutch. The wide chord is at the
max inertia for the Rotax at 67 inches, but I don't care as we need a 64
inch. If it has been working for over ten years, I'll go with
performance every time. I won't sell another narrow chord blade.
Whirlwind is hydraulic and I just love hydraulic props, but they leak
and for any service they have to go back to the manufacturer. Keep a
spare fixed prop. The blades have great twist and make a wooshing sound
at full power, they are smooth and reliable. You must use an
aftermarket governor (speed controller) and installation also includes a
wonky setup to lock in the cable and very expensive Rotax oil line set
for the governor hookup. They are very light and if struck the blades
are totaled. Great folks and good support. They will paint to suit
your colors. It is the only other prop I recommend.
Woodcomp two blade is good but reliability and quick service are hit and
miss. Like the Whirlwind it has the larger twist and is fairly fast at
altitude. We don't see much difference in climb. Most folks see a
small difference in climb in favor of the Woodcomp over the AP332 and
that is mostly MP and RPM fine pitch limit. Aircraft weights, and drag
vary so I don't hold much stock unless tested on the same aircraft and
conditions. Theoretically there should be no difference in climb.
The Woodcomp three blade is nice looking, but has the same reliability
problem. And you have to buy an after market controller for
reliability. Duh, they have been doing this long enough to get their
stuff together. In their defense, I believe part of the reliability is
installation and testing at the factory. A shame really, it is a nice
looking blade.
Airmaster AP 4 series can be a two or three blade.
It has many choices of blades. I personally like the Whirwind blades on
the AP420 series for performance, Sensenich for the tapered tip and
lower noise on the 430. The AP430 is quieter and pulls very strong. A
real good climber and about 10 knots faster than the Warp Drive. Kiev,
and Bolly blades are also available, but they are very light blades and
do not hold up as well as the WD in grass/sandy environments.
Sensenich, and Whirlwind have a softer leading edge, so for rough or
dirty fields or high grass expect to do maintenance...
MT makes a very good prop also. They are reliable, but pricey and the
language barrier is frustrating. They are also a fast prop, but you
will have to sell a child to own one.
One other prop is the Hoffman, they are wood/glass and have an electric
drive, but the only ones I am familiar with are the mechanical push pull
lever ones used on the Ximango MG. I have sold Airmasters to those who
have inquired with that plane... They are out of Germany also.
As I said on my website. I have never been stuck out with the
Airmaster. With a 9 volt battery, I can manually set a pitch to get
home even with panel electrical failure.
You can mow the grass with the Warp Drive blade (I have done it, grass
stains everywhere!) I have flown my Europa with both the two blade
AP420 and the AP332. The 420 performs a bit better at altitude, is
easier to get the cowl off, lighter by about 4-5 pounds, but is a bit
noisier outside and in. Not a lot of noise on the 64 inch. Folks at
the airport know when I have the two blade on. On the longer AP420
props I've tested the 420 is awesome at 70 inches, ground clearance is
unacceptable for the Europa but great on the Rans S-6 and the float
planes. We actually pulled a float equipped S-6 past redline with a
912S at 5500 RPM and 26 inches of MP.
I like things reliable (so remind me why I have a 914?) and my bang for
the buck was the Airmaster. In 6 years as the dealer, I just don't get
problems or call backs. I have only had to send them to the factory for
prop strikes (at my insistence as I can't magneflux for hub cracks).
Normally, guys just plug and play them and I get a call after six plus
years asking how to fix rock dings. ($75-170 per blade for a rebuild
and repaint depending on damage). The biggest complaint, Warp Drive
blades are all black and Sensenich is White, with red tips, and black on
the back only.
Remember, each plane is different. Apples and oranges is the normal
comparison we owners and dealers get. I get to see many prop requests
and I have had two Woodcomp owners change to the Airmaster out of
frustration with reliability. I have never had an Airmaster returned.
I have changed out the narrow chord blades though on the AP332 for wide
chord.
I like plug and play, and that is what it is on the Europa XS or Classic
with either the AP332 or 420/430 series.
Bud Yerly
US Airmaster Dealer
----- Original Message -----
From: N6ZY<mailto:jffisher@gmail.com>
To: europa-list@matronics.com<mailto:europa-list@matronics.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2013 10:22 PM
Subject: Europa-List: Woodcomp or Airmaster Prop
<jffisher@gmail.com<mailto:jffisher@gmail.com>>
I am getting close to having to select an electric constant speed
feathering prop for my 914-powered Europa XS Trigear. The choice seems
to be between the Woodcomp and the Airmaster. Does anyone have flight
experience of both, to provide a comparison?
My initial impression is that the Airmaster has a good reputation, but
that the available blades do not have sufficient twist near the root to
offer optimum performance. Woodcomp blades have the twist, but I have
read comments that their after sales service is lacking, and there has
been at least on in-flight failure.
Are my impressions correct, and how does the performance, including
top speed, compare? I should add that i am based in the US, and that I
am looking at a two blade prop. I would appreciate any advice based on
real experience. Thanks
Jerry
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