165 Franklin C/S Prop

leadsledfan

leadsledfan

New member
Did they make a controllable pitch prop for the 165 franklin? (Besides the aeromatic).
If so would it be possible to fit one to a Cruisair?
If not, could a more modern electric C/S be fitted?

I know that it would be paperwork intensive if it was possible, but take it as a question of curiosity.
-Adam
 
There was a Sensinch Skyblade but you can't get them serviced any more. I had an aeromatic on my 14-13-3 and it worked great once I set it up correctly. I did try to get MT to make a version of their electric prop with the 150/165 b3 hub. It was gonna be spend $6000 -$7000. And certification was a problem. I ended up with a 1958 cruise master with a 470 continental. If you get an aeromatic I would be glad to help set it up. I have a bunch of hardware to get the job done.
 
It would probably be less work to swap in a different motor that was built for a C/S. The paperwork would always be a nightmare of course.
I would love an aeromatic, but they seem rare for the 165, and hard to get serviced. Also, fairly spendy.

In the world of reality that we are all forced to live in, it would probably be worthwhile to find a nice cruisemaster with the 260 continental.

But can't we dream?
 
Last I heard was that Kent had lost his repair station certificate. That was a while ago and maybe the status has changed. He builds a really beautiful prop. I hope he gets going again. _____Grant.
 
I don't have any faith in the Sensenich Skyblade but only because of the availability of the diaphragm. A customer of mine had one that he installed on a 165 HP powered Cruiser. The diaphragm ruptured within about 10 hours but he was taxiing in from a flight so there was no real pucker factor, just a great big oily mess that he cursed at roundly. There were no "new" diaphragms available but he did finally locate a new-old-stock still sealed in its original packaging. This one lasted just about as long but had its catastrophic failure while he was airborne- fortunately near his airport on a very user friendly day. He had zero forward visability, very poor/limited side visability forward of the wings but still made a pretty acceptable landing without any help from the engine. In very colorful language he explained why he immediately bought a fixed pitch metal prop. Only fast talking by his son saved the Skyblade from a chainsaw but it's a permanent wall decoration about 12 feet up a wall in his hangar/man cave.

Just my two cents worth...

Scott
N74432
 
The sky blade seems like an aeromatic but made of gold and only serviced by gods.
I'll pass.
My NO AD metal McCauley is just fine.
-Adam
 
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