I just saw that Flight Resource, LLC , the folks who bring you MT Propellers, have a new STC for a reversing prop for single engine aircraft.

Here is a link to the video at AOPA. The segment occurs at about 12:45 into the video. They demo it on a Husky on floats, landing very short, and then reversing. Kind of wild to see a small seaplane being pushed backwards in the water. I think the STC probably covers a variety of planes.

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/aopa-live?utm_source=ALTW&utm_medium=Content&utm_content=L5b&utm_campaign=160610ALTW

I shudder to think what they will do with this at Valdez? . Actually, I think this STC will probably mainly target the float crowd, but what do I know.

I'd love to have one on my 185 amphib, but man $$$

I would think that the time it takes to change the pitch of the prop and apply power most STOL aircraft would already almost be stopped. And most the time if you land someplace you need more room to takeoff than you do land. So it probably wouldn't be too useful in those cases. It would be great for floats!

One of the first of these props is going on a friend's 185 in a couple months. This airplane is based at Kenmore on Aerocet amphibs. We're all looking forward to the performance and I'm particularly curious about the control linkage.

Has anyone seen the control on a Husky? I'm assuming it's like a turbine in that the reverse is actuated by the throttle, not the prop control. Having to switch controls mid rollout would defeat the purpose.

piperpainter wrote:....most the time if you land someplace you need more room to takeoff than you do land. So it probably wouldn't be too useful in those cases. ...

Might be handy for takeoff...you can use beta to back up into the brush to get as much takeoff room as possible.

Halestorm wrote:One of the first of these props is going on a friend's 185 in a couple months. This airplane is based at Kenmore on Aerocet amphibs. We're all looking forward to the performance and I'm particularly curious about the control linkage.

Has anyone seen the control on a Husky? I'm assuming it's like a turbine in that the reverse is actuated by the throttle, not the prop control. Having to switch controls mid rollout would defeat the purpose.

The one I've seen is electrically actuated via toggle switch. You have to be below 1300 rpm and under 50 mph to actuate (or somewhere around those numbers).

So yeah, reduce power, flip toggle, add power. Probably pretty nice on floats and skis. Not sure it has much use on wheels, unless you want to back into your hangar.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Reversible props on float planes is just plain cheating

I was at Johnson Creek during the Supercub fly in a few years ago. An amphibious cub came in, it taxied over to where I was sitting under my wing then reversed into parking. It was pretty cool!

The one I've seen is electrically actuated via toggle switch. You have to be below 1300 rpm and under 50 mph to actuate (or somewhere around those numbers).

Hmmmm, that could be fun. 1200 RPM or so. 45 MPH indicated. 50 feet up. Let's flip this switch and turn that prop into an 80" sheet of plywood sitting on the nose.

Could be interesting!!!

Gump

Looks fun

(skip to 1:30 for the reverse)

I watched this plane go down. It was also rumored that the pilot wanted to see if flipping the switch would slow him down but just a rumor...

http://www.asias.faa.gov/pls/apex/f?p=1 ... ANC05LA128

Not having the linkage tied to the throttle would be a deal breaker for me. Pulling it into beta or even well into reverse, while airborne in a turbine (properly rigged) is not only a non event, it is easy and a useful tool for some applications (running downhill and dropping retardant comes to mind) trying to do that with a toggle would be a cluster... A toggle set up would probably be fine for float ops, but as others have said, would be all but useless on wheels...

Take care, Rob

Rather than having a reversing prop, here is a wild plane that accomplishes the same thing using a reversible motor, The Beseler Steam Engine powered airplane was demoed in1933. Go to 2:33 in the video below to see the plane go forwards and backwards.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw6NFmcnW-8



Now I have not seen many steam powered aircraft lately, but an electric powered aircraft with a fixed pitch prop and reversible motor might be able to duplicate the 1933 Beseler, as well as the Husky demo on the AOPA video.

Things are getting strange.

TradeCraft wrote:

Halestorm wrote:One of the first of these props is going on a friend's 185 in a couple months. This airplane is based at Kenmore on Aerocet amphibs. We're all looking forward to the performance and I'm particularly curious about the control linkage.

Has anyone seen the control on a Husky? I'm assuming it's like a turbine in that the reverse is actuated by the throttle, not the prop control. Having to switch controls mid rollout would defeat the purpose.

The one I've seen is electrically actuated via toggle switch. You have to be below 1300 rpm and under 50 mph to actuate (or somewhere around those numbers).

So yeah, reduce power, flip toggle, add power. Probably pretty nice on floats and skis. Not sure it has much use on wheels, unless you want to back into your hangar.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Disappointing, I just confirmed this is the way it will work on the Cessna too. Solenoid drives the prop to a preset reverse position and then you have a fixed pitch prop in reverse.

I agree with Rob, a properly rigged turbine beta system is a wonderful tool, I had hoped the MT system would be somewhat analogous. I can see how a reversing cam mechanism might be too complex/expensive to get certified but still, it's so cool! Being able to hover off a dock in beta(neutral) has saved my bacon many times. I'm afraid this reversing system MT is making may just be a gimmick, we'll see...

Didn't the original SeaBees with the franklin engine go into beta for docking, etc?

Anybody remember Wayne Handley and his Turbo Raven? He would do STEEP descents in beta. One day in Salinas it didn't come out of beta. He pancaked in pretty hard but survived it. Not sure how to post a link but many vids on youtube...