RC Tech

TECH NOTES

Electric Airplane Propellers

Propeller

Misconception #1: You cannot use propellers for glow or gasoline engines on electric motors. Yes, you can use propellers for internal combustion (IC) engines on electric motors.

Electric props will often provide better performance because they are lighter, but that is not always true. In some extreme cases, like pylon racers, you might actually need to use IC propellers on an electric motor because electric-only props may not stand up to the higher RPMs. Likewise, it is not a good idea to use a “Slow Fly” type electric propeller on a fast-spinning motor of any type.

APC lists the RPM limits for their propellers. Obey those limits!

On the flip side, you NEVER want to use an electric prop on a glow engine. The hubs on electric propellers are not designed for the stresses of IC engines. They will eventually throw a blade. You don’t want to be anywhere nearby when that happens!