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Understanding Propeller Torque and P-Factor: Difference between revisions
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Understanding Propeller Torque and P-Factor (view source)
Revision as of 07:33, 21 June 2006
, 21 June 2006added propwash, which is actually the most important factor
Paul Richter (talk | contribs) (added propwash, which is actually the most important factor) |
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This is an attempt to answer the frequent question "Why is my aircraft turning left all the time?" | This is an attempt to answer the frequent question "Why is my aircraft turning left all the time?" | ||
== Propeller Torque Effect == | This occurs only in aircraft with propellers at the front of the aircraft. Three distinct phenomena cause the effect, all causing the aircraft to turn in the same direction. They are: | ||
==Prop wash== | |||
A propeller pushes air not just horizontally to the back, but more in a twisting helix around the fuselage (clockwise as seen from the cockpit). As the air whirls around the fuselage it pushes against the left side of the vertical tail, causing the plane to yaw to the left. The prop wash effect is at its greatest when the airflow is flowing more around the fuselage than along it, i.e., at high power and low airspeed, which is the situation when starting the takeoff run. | |||
==Propeller Torque Effect== | |||
Torque effect is the influence of engine torque on aircraft movement and control. It is generally exhibited as a left turning tendency in piston single engine propeller driven aircraft. | Torque effect is the influence of engine torque on aircraft movement and control. It is generally exhibited as a left turning tendency in piston single engine propeller driven aircraft. | ||