Originally Posted by
phoenix
What does the two bladed prop have to do with it??? Are we talking about P-Factor?? If so, could you please explain your comment?? I don't understand.
The additional blade causes a lot more drag. There is much more frontal area when you reduce power and get a low pitch/high RPM position than there would be with just two blades. You also have the additional drag that is a byproduct of the thrust being produced (remember, a prop is just an airfoil generating lift that's being used in a different direction). I haven't flown a newer mooney with a three blade prop but the few hours I have in an M20 showed me that it's very slippery. You really, really have to be ahead of that aircraft.
While we're not talking about a mooney, I've flown a 172RG in each configuration and the 3 blades were immediately apparent when doing power off 180 landings. The 3 bladed aircraft fell out of the sky.