Flight Training - August 2024 - 38
PISTON
PROPELLER
CONTROL
PROPELLER
BLADE
FLYWEIGHTS
DRIVE SHAFT
The pilot uses a propeller control in the cockpit to set revolutions per
minute. That setting determines how much oil will be pressurized into the
propeller hub. The oil pressure moves a plate that either reduces the pitch
of the blades to allow the engine to generate more power, or increases
their pitch to take a bigger bite of air. A flatter pitch is used for takeoff,
when more power is needed to climb.
On takeoff, the propeller is full forward. Then when taking
the runway, slowly push the throttle forward over the course of
three to five seconds. The system can lag a bit, especially when
cold, and coming to full throttle slowly will give it time to adjust
and not surge or overspeed.
Soon after takeoff, usually around 1,000 feet above the ground,
the first decision comes. Many airplanes have a maximum power
time limitation. For many years instructors taught not to fly
" oversquare, " meaning not to operate the manifold pressure higher
than the rpm in hundreds. So, if you pulled the rpm back from 2,600
on takeoff to a more reasonable 2,500 rpm for climb, they would
first recommend pulling the manifold pressure back to 25 inches.
It turns out we were doing it all wrong. Not flying oversquare
was an operating construct and had no basis in engine health or
performance data. Many fixed-pitch airplanes routinely operate
oversquare. We just don't have a manifold pressure gauge to see it.
38
FLIGHT TRAINING AUGUST 2024
Current procedures and limitations vary based on the type
of airplane and engine, and the only way to know for sure how
to operate your engine is to read the manual. If the airplane
and engine manual disagree, as is often the case, the airplane
manual trumps. In the airplane manual of the newer Lycoming
IO-540-powered 182, Cessna says that a normal climb is 23 inches
of mercury and 2,400 rpm. Although, since this is the normal
operation section, there's no limitation to running the engine
however you like. As you can see, this decision of where to set
climb power is a decision best made long before taking the runway.
Engine expert Mike Busch told a Cessna 210 owner on AOPA's
Ask the A&Ps podcast that the best course of action is to leave
the throttle fully open (forward to the stop), and not touch it
until it's time to land. This guidance may sound strange to people
who have flown airplanes with constant-speed propellers for
many years, but it is good advice if you consider that oversquare
ILLUSTRATION: STEVE KARP, PHOTO: CHRIS ROSE
Flight Training - August 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - August 2024
Contents
Flight Training - August 2024 - Intro
Flight Training - August 2024 - Cover1
Flight Training - August 2024 - Cover2
Flight Training - August 2024 - Contents
Flight Training - August 2024 - 2
Flight Training - August 2024 - 3
Flight Training - August 2024 - 4
Flight Training - August 2024 - 5
Flight Training - August 2024 - 6
Flight Training - August 2024 - 7
Flight Training - August 2024 - 8
Flight Training - August 2024 - 9
Flight Training - August 2024 - 10
Flight Training - August 2024 - 11
Flight Training - August 2024 - 12
Flight Training - August 2024 - 13
Flight Training - August 2024 - 14
Flight Training - August 2024 - 15
Flight Training - August 2024 - 16
Flight Training - August 2024 - 17
Flight Training - August 2024 - 18
Flight Training - August 2024 - 19
Flight Training - August 2024 - 20
Flight Training - August 2024 - 21
Flight Training - August 2024 - 22
Flight Training - August 2024 - 23
Flight Training - August 2024 - 24
Flight Training - August 2024 - 25
Flight Training - August 2024 - 26
Flight Training - August 2024 - 27
Flight Training - August 2024 - 28
Flight Training - August 2024 - 29
Flight Training - August 2024 - 30
Flight Training - August 2024 - 31
Flight Training - August 2024 - 32
Flight Training - August 2024 - 33
Flight Training - August 2024 - 34
Flight Training - August 2024 - 35
Flight Training - August 2024 - 36
Flight Training - August 2024 - 37
Flight Training - August 2024 - 38
Flight Training - August 2024 - 39
Flight Training - August 2024 - 40
Flight Training - August 2024 - 41
Flight Training - August 2024 - 42
Flight Training - August 2024 - 43
Flight Training - August 2024 - 44
Flight Training - August 2024 - 45
Flight Training - August 2024 - 46
Flight Training - August 2024 - 47
Flight Training - August 2024 - 48
Flight Training - August 2024 - 49
Flight Training - August 2024 - 50
Flight Training - August 2024 - 51
Flight Training - August 2024 - 52
Flight Training - August 2024 - 53
Flight Training - August 2024 - 54
Flight Training - August 2024 - 55
Flight Training - August 2024 - 56
Flight Training - August 2024 - Cover3
Flight Training - August 2024 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201103
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com