Propeller Arrived

Here's my new Sensenich propeller. I ordered it directly from the factory. I love the way an expertly crafted piece of machinery looks like a work of art. If I wasn't going to hang it on the front of an airplane, I'd hang it on the wall!

Here's a close-up of the hub. It doesn't show it in the pictures but it's quite big. It's about 6 feet long and weighs about 40 lbs. That's a big hunk of aluminum. Sensenich designed this series of propellers specifically for high speed homebuilts like the RV. Previously, wood propellers were used but there are limitations on wood propellers. Flying in the rain is damaging and the bolt torque needs to be constantly checked due to the expansion and contraction of wood. The metal propellers made for slower factory aircraft like Cessnas and Pipers couldn't safely be modified without exceeding the manufacturers limits on pitch and twist. Since the RV market is so big, manufacturers have started catering to us and this Sensenich prop is a good example.