PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Is there engine "torque" on take off in a turbo-prop single engine aircraft?
Old 19th April 2006 | 22:24
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LOMCEVAK
 
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: UK
My previous post was made somewhat hastily, and I had made an invalid oversimplification. I had just considered the mechanics of a propeller connected directly to the turbine by a single shaft. In that arrangement, there would be no more torque reaction causing the aircraft to roll than in a turbofan. The torque referred to in other posts is the torque on the propeller shaft, which is essentially what is measured on a turbo-prop torque gauge. This would not cause a rolling moment on the aircraft if connected directly to the turbine. However, having thought it through more carefully, I agree that torque is transmitted to the airframe but due to the reduction gearing. The gear box is attached to the airframe, and the reaction between the gears, which are usually offset from the propeller shaft axis, is what then generates a rolling moment. Any roll due to torque is not produced by the turbine directly, but by the torque on the shaft connecting the turbine to the gearbox. Hence, the torque effect in a turbo-prop is all down to the gearbox design.

Barit 1, obviously ailerons are not affective at zero airspeed, but in the Spitfire they are effective at a very low speed (with the ASI on the bottom stop so I cannot quote a number) so the aileron input is made before the take-off roll commences and this levels the wings very quickly. If you increase power slowly enough, by the time the torque effect occurs, they are effective.
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