On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 05:49:10 GMT, "Roy Epperson"
wrote:

With our Mooney F model at best glide speed when I pull the prop control all
the way back (max pitch), it saves me about 300 fpm while maintaining best
glide. With a minimum pitch, the blades are one big braking force.

I'll gladly take your collective word for it from in-flight
observations.

Mine were limited to shoving the prop ahead turning final (in every
complex aircraft I've ever flown in) at approx 1200-1400 rpm (prop
control previously set to 2300 in cruise) with no change in engine
rpm/prop noise noted.

Have pulled mis-rigged PT6A props to "flat" on short final a couple of
times, have the stained shorts to prove it.

Before I posted, I called my gov shop buddy to make sure his views
coincided with what I remembered from hanging around in his shop. He
related same, that the gov bench doesn't indicate useable gov pressure
until around 1500-1600 rpm. As I recall, on most engines, the gov
drive turns at about 90% of the indicated rpm.

I stuff I work on now has a fixed-pitch first stage "prop", and I
ain't allowed to drive it, so I can't add anything further.

Regards;

TC