Choosing colour of prop
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Here
Choosing colour of prop
I've been offered a choice of colours for the prop on our little taildragger microlight - and was wondering if there was any inflight advantage to a particular colour? For example, is black 'invisible' on video/photos, or white, or is it spinning so quickly it makes no difference...? Any other aspects/advantages?
White, Red, Black, Yellow or Gray
White, Red, Black, Yellow or Gray
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 424
From: GA, USA
Even a white prop is usually black on the pilots side so it wouldn’t matter much.
I have a preference for a white prop, just looks smarter unless it’s a camo Piper cub, then black.
I have a preference for a white prop, just looks smarter unless it’s a camo Piper cub, then black.
Fleet Manager
Joined: Aug 2006
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 7,090
Likes: 2,952
From: Ontario, Canada
I imagine that the composite props are offered primarily in white so that they are the least affected by radiant heat, though one of the MT's we bought was a beautiful grey with yellow tips. The MT I have is white from the factory, not my first choice, but okay. I less favour the angled red tips and stripes, the angle defeats the purpose to make a sharp distinction of blade to tip during rotation. Other than considerations of longevity related to absorbing heat from sunlight, and black faces to reduce glare to the pilot, I doubt that the colour matters much, other than it would be wise to have some contrast between the blades and the cowling to reduce the risk of someone not noticing the blade, and hitting it while moving around the parked aircraft.
