T-28s and the lack of paddles

[T J Johansen]

Just looked at some photos of T-28s on the net, and notice that most A models with the small engine no longer use the broad (paddle) two bladed prop. What is the reason for this, availability, price, maintenance/ ADs, or performance?



T J

[marine air]

Availability. The Aeroproducts prop has been scarce for forty years. My friend's dad had a T-28A in the 1980's and it seems like the two bladed prop either is flight hours limited or made of steel and subject to corrosion issues. Theirs failed inspection and they replaced it with the three bladed Hamilton Standard prop that came off a crop duster of some kind. They sold their old prop to the Mexican Air Force as they were flying A's and buying up the old Aeroproducts prop. I'll have to ask him if he remembers any performance changes in the two props.

[Randy Wilson]

The CAF's T-28A is assigned to the High Sky Wing, here in Midland, TX and we used to have a second T-28A which belonged to a member. The CAF one has the three-bladed prop and the private one still had the two blade. I flew both of them and the three-blade would out accelerate the two-blade on take off and in the air. Hope that helps.

Randy