1:1_Scale wrote:Chad, what were your deciding factors for this prop? What others did you consider, etc.?
"The list is long, but distinquished!"
I've been talking to Fred for about 7 months about his props (first contact was July 18, '07). He has answered EVERY single question in a timely manner, and has been completely honest in his responses. He sent me a sheet with customer testimonials. I read thru every page on the BiCambered website about how it works to generate more thrust with a quieter sound signature. Fred has been in the prop business for a long, long time, and has been doing custom work for special applications for a long, long time.
Once the decision to go with a fixed pitch prop was made, reading about Felix props, and talking to the man himself made the decision pretty easy.
Another factor...Catto props are the norm for non-metal fixed pitch props for RV's, I think we'd all agree. HOWEVER...I know the man is busy, but I can't understand how an email or two goes unanswered for two months with questions regarding specifics on a possible order. I know he has plenty of business, and won't miss me, but I stopped trying to get a response. People love his props, and swear by them. A friend of mine here in town did get an order in for his two blade prop for his O-360 7A. It was supposed to be here in January...he still doesn't have it. Another friend waited 13 months PAST his projected delivery date for his. He has it now, but 13 months?
Cost...The Felix two blade prop will perform as good or better (with the BiCambered airfoil) as the Catto two blade for about $500 less. Even the three blade is $300 less, and that's WITH the BiCambered charge of $230 ($140 for the two blade). This prop cost me $1189 with BiCamber, and special paint.
I don't know how many Felix props are flying, but I'd be willing to bet there are more than Prince and Performance, and probably on par with Catto. NOT on RV's, but there are other airplanes out there...
I considered everything...Catto, Performance, Prince, Hammond, MT, Sensenich (metal and wood), IVO, McCauley, Wernke, Sterba...It comes down to what you get for the money, and I firmly believe that this BiCambered Felix prop is
THE bang for the buck in props.
I ruled out a constant speed prop a while back because of cost of purchase, and maintenance/overhaul. The benefits of the CS prop, in my opinion only, do not outweigh the cost of entry.
The BiCambered Tech stuff is new, but Felix has been making props for a long time. He's working with Paul Lipps on the new Elippse prop...Paul designed it, Fred built the one for his RV-6 (Catto built the one on Paul's Lancair).
CJ
