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Old May 6th 09, 06:38 AM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Tim[_8_]
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Posts: 27
Default Feathering an engine


"Orval Fairbairn" wrote in message
news
In article
,
wrote:

On May 5, 1:06 pm, Scott Skylane wrote:
As an aside, the drag created by a windmilling propeller, i.e. one not
feathered and attached to a dead engine, creates as much drag as a flat
plate the same size as the area of the prop arc.


Nope. The blades cannot be everywhere at once, and so the area
affected is no larger than the blade area.

Dan


YES! In aeronautical engineering analysis, a windmilling prop is
considered to be a flat disk, with drag numbers to match. Feathering the
prop greatly reduces drag.


So you are saying if I loose power at high altitude in a fixed pitch prop
aircraft, like a Skyhawk, I will have less drag if I stop the prop, as
opposed to letting it windmill?