Re: PM 38 Why the difference in prop length
First off- Thom, this may be the best thread in the history of air race discussion forums, thanks to all your contributions. Hearing the details from such a hands-on owner/pilot is a rare thing. So cool that you didn't sub-contract the prop re-design out, but figured it out and executed the modifications yourself. That really earns my respect (well, additional admiration- just strapping on a racer in and of itself earns my respect).
As for sound, I've never heard your new props except in recordings, and from that it sounds REALLY fantastic. Nothing at all like the veg-o-matic blades on there before- I really can hardly believe no one had done anything about that in nearly 30 years. So just based on recordings, its between you, Dreadnought, and 232 for my favorite sound among current racers. Strega sounds fantastic also, but I kinda like the chest-thumping deeper notes.
Of the racers I have heard in person, a couple stand out. For starters I have to agree with this:
The P-38 has an unbelievably sexy sound no matter what has been done to the airplane, but Lefty's turbo-delete exhaust system was particularly good. Not deafeningly loud, more "mellow". I guess its the combination of Allison power, exhaust manifolds with collectors and a single dump instead of individual stacks, and contra-rotating Curtiss props that make the P-38 so unique... but whatever it is, it has a special place in my ears. Again from recordings since I haven't heard it in person, the restoration by Ezell Aviation seems to have largely preserved that sound.
Another one that was a standout is Pardue's Fury. Not hugely different from the other Wright-powered Furies, but different enough to notice, and again its a slight mellowing of the sound. Very cool... and unlike the P-38, LOUD!
First off- Thom, this may be the best thread in the history of air race discussion forums, thanks to all your contributions. Hearing the details from such a hands-on owner/pilot is a rare thing. So cool that you didn't sub-contract the prop re-design out, but figured it out and executed the modifications yourself. That really earns my respect (well, additional admiration- just strapping on a racer in and of itself earns my respect).
As for sound, I've never heard your new props except in recordings, and from that it sounds REALLY fantastic. Nothing at all like the veg-o-matic blades on there before- I really can hardly believe no one had done anything about that in nearly 30 years. So just based on recordings, its between you, Dreadnought, and 232 for my favorite sound among current racers. Strega sounds fantastic also, but I kinda like the chest-thumping deeper notes.
Of the racers I have heard in person, a couple stand out. For starters I have to agree with this:
Originally posted by Leo
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Another one that was a standout is Pardue's Fury. Not hugely different from the other Wright-powered Furies, but different enough to notice, and again its a slight mellowing of the sound. Very cool... and unlike the P-38, LOUD!
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