"John E. Carty" wrote in message
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"Tim" wrote in message
m...

"vaughn" wrote in message
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"Tim" wrote in message
m...


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?

Yes, but with a fixed pitch prop you may or may not be able to stop the
prop by slowing down to a near stall. Once stopped, it may or may not
stay stopped at best glide speed. It would depend on the pitch of your
prop, the compression of your engine, your plane's best glide speed, the
quality of the pilot's speed control, and the phase of the moon.

Vaughn

Are you high?
Have you actually done it?
I can assure you, all aspects of it are much easier than you imply.



Vaughn is absolutely correct in stating that many aircraft with
fixed-pitch props will windmill all the way in, as you would have to be
near or below its rated stall speed for it to stop. Depends on the
particular aircraft in question :-)

Perhaps, but that wasn't the question, and what does the phase of the moon
have to do with anything but starting a ****ing contest?

There is no doubt in my mind that all the singles I have flown will windmill
all the way in. I'm not aware of any direct drive, piston singles that
won't. You in fact have to be very, very slow to stop the prop, but it's not
difficult do to do. But even at airspeeds well above max glide, I have never
had a stopped prop restart against compression without at least bumping the
starter.

The point was how much do you gain by stopping a fixed pitch prop, as
opposed to letting it wind mill. I was taught many years ago, that if you
experience a power failure at high altitude, stopping the prop could mean
the difference in reaching a distant landing area. Some of the posts in this
thread suggests it makes no difference. I thought it might be to everyone's
benefit to clarify.