AVickers
06-22-2002, 10:26 AM
All this talk about a drive swap got me to looking and I've found a complete Bravo III (less props) that I can afford (mentally, at least). One problem is that it's a 1.81:1 drive.
By my calculations, if I use 30" props on it, I'll have about the same overall ratio as my 1.32:1 Alpha w/ a 22" prop. Anybody got any experience w/ the Bravo III that can confirm or trash this theory? Even if the ratio is the same, the slip might not be the same 'cause there's two props. Would that work to increase the overall ratio? Or would the hydromotive resistance overcome the advantage of dual props?
The main problem I see with this theory is that 30" props is as high as they go... I wouldn't be able to "prop up" from there. Getting gears to change the ratio appears to be a rather expensive proposition -- something like $1,200 for the parts? And uppers are rather expensive as well. (It's a good thing they don't break like the Alphas.)
BTW: Is anybody running a Bravo III on a Classic 22? I've heard that they'll chine walk at about 70 because there's no side thrust to "stabilize" things. (This may be correct: I drove a very fast Volvo Duoprop and it was very spooky at speed -- lots of darting around.)
But then again, the Blackhawk doesn't appear to suffer from a lack of side thrust...does it?
By my calculations, if I use 30" props on it, I'll have about the same overall ratio as my 1.32:1 Alpha w/ a 22" prop. Anybody got any experience w/ the Bravo III that can confirm or trash this theory? Even if the ratio is the same, the slip might not be the same 'cause there's two props. Would that work to increase the overall ratio? Or would the hydromotive resistance overcome the advantage of dual props?
The main problem I see with this theory is that 30" props is as high as they go... I wouldn't be able to "prop up" from there. Getting gears to change the ratio appears to be a rather expensive proposition -- something like $1,200 for the parts? And uppers are rather expensive as well. (It's a good thing they don't break like the Alphas.)
BTW: Is anybody running a Bravo III on a Classic 22? I've heard that they'll chine walk at about 70 because there's no side thrust to "stabilize" things. (This may be correct: I drove a very fast Volvo Duoprop and it was very spooky at speed -- lots of darting around.)
But then again, the Blackhawk doesn't appear to suffer from a lack of side thrust...does it?