Note: Rotational Speed Forward Speed Increasing
Would Normally Also * —
Tnerease
Blade Angle
of Attack vy Angle of zz
3 2
Decreasing Bo Attack Bo
ne ae
Ss 28
ao €%
eg g¢
S& E§
ey gc
% me
Forward Speed Forward Speed
Figure 1.18 - Variation in Angle of Attack with a Change in Forward Speed and a Fixed
Blade Angle
Effect of Forward Speed
Looking at the illustration, fig. 1.18 above, you should see that the horizontal
effective pitch line is now represented as the forward speed of the aircraft and
the vertical line now represents the propeller rotational specd. Note that in the
right hand illustration there is a combination of propeller speed and aircraft
forward speed that produces what appears to be a good angle of attack. Now
look what happens when the aircraft forward speed increases at constant
propeller speed. The effective pitch vector lengthens and the angle of attack
reduces quite dramatically. If the forward speed were to continue incteasing,
like this, the angle of attack could disappear altogether. In the extreme, if the
aitcraft were in a dive for example, the angle of attack could appear on the
camber side of the blade as a ‘negative angle’. As the propeller cannot produce
thtust when there is no angle of attack it should be clear to you that the
forward speed of an aircraft equipped with this propeller will be limited.