Aussie Vess Prop Test

[excelpoint]

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity I finally got my hands on a Vess prop to try on my DA150 Powered 44% Comp ARF Giles. I have been using a Mesjlik 30X12 up until today and have been quite happy with it. This morning we headed out for a fly so I had a quick flight with the Mesjlik and then quickly flew again with the Vess. The Vess I chose to try was is the 32"C". I thought I would go the "C" pitch to try and quieten the motor a bit. My 150 is on standard DA mufflers. On the Noise side I thought it was actually a bit loader then the Mesjlik, downline breaking seem about the same if not a touch better. It was in the uplines that I really noticed a difference. Even with the Mesjlik I had plenty of upline pull but with the Vess it was notably better. I was able to do 2 positive snaps on a long upline and still accelerate out the other side. I didn't get any RPM figures yet as my tacho had a flat batt but hopefully tomorrow I will get some.
Cheers Matt

[Biff]

Thanks mate, They do pull like John Deere!

[adrian]

was wondering why you ausie boys dont use bolly - there must be a price advantage and the product is good - im not pushing my sponsor just wondering - and i am sure that they would respond to feed back - no?

looking forward to get my hands on a vess too!!

[excelpoint]

I do have a Bolly wood prop as a backup. But they dont perform as well as some others and the price difference isnt that much. If you are sponsored by Bolly wouldnt they be a bit pi$$ed if you used one of the other brands?

[adrian]

i have used bolly for almost 6 years and it has served me well - nope i have a free hand in testing and have of late tested Biela, menz, 3W and a host of ching props - the feed back straight to bolly with always positive response - but for now on my moki 180 planes i use 18x8 - on my 50cc planes, a yak toc/am 30% with a mvvs58/ bolly 24x10 - a chip double vision and a DA50 with bolly 22x8 and a aerotec 50cc katana with a zdz50ng and bolly 22x8 - on my DA150cc H9 ultimate i use bolly 32x10 wood for 3d and 32x10 carbon for imac - i certainly have no negative feed back.

the vess is a brand new developement and a must look at - and i will - lol

[RobertV]

Excelpoint,

I'm glad to hear that you have finally managed to get one of my props and am even happier that it is working well for you. Your comments are typical of what most fliers are telling me both in the performance and the sound. I think Frank Noll put it best when he said "it makes my Carden Yak fly like it's 3 pounds lighter...I love it". But he couldn't use it at the IMAC Nats because it had a peculiar low-frequency sound (not sonic tip related) in his application that might have possibly cost him some precious noise bonus points. I'm certainly addressing that issue because providing a high performance wood propeller with low noise has been my primary design objective from the very start and there is obviously some room for further improvement!

I'll be sure to work real hard on establishing a means whereby you guys can easily get them "down under". To this point, we have just "trickeld" a few out to DA's established dealer there and now it's time to improve that pipeline.

Best Regards,

Robert Vess
Vess Propellers

[excelpoint]

Thanks for the reply Robert. We don't have much in the way of noise restrictions over here so I will be sticking to the Vess prop. The performance gain far out ways the slight noise increase. I wouldn't worry too much about getting them out here in Australia, now that Ian Howard(DA Australia) has them there wont be a problem getting our hands on them, his reliability of service is second to non over here You can order it one day and be guaranteed to have it next day or second day at the latest most times anywhere in the country.

[RobertV]

Excelpoint,

It sounds like you guys are well covered by Ian and I will work with DA to make sure he has no problem staying stocked.

Now we just need to get some of the new 22 and 23 inch props to him: 22 and 23 inch Vess Props are shipping!

Robert Vess
Vess Propellers

[RustyTumbles]

I have been waiting to try these props on my 50. What would you recomend for a DA50 in a 27% Ultimate (16.5Lbs) with slimline muffler. Currently turning a bolly wood at 6800rpm.

Hey Matt,

What is the downline braking like compaired to other props you have tried?

[JeremyHolt]

Hey Robert thats interesting about the low frequency tone you speak of. When I was running my 32 D it had a very low growl and full power pulling to an upline. Now I am running the C in very ( hot conditions) and it doesnt have that growl. So I dont know if its just not turning the rpms that it was when it was cooler or what but it is much quieter. I cant say that I have lost anything in performance either. It is still pulling it around with authority so I am very happy with it in these humid hot conditions.

[RobertV]

Rusty...,

I'd say you would want to start with the 22B or 23A. I really love that 23A for 3D and we're finding it to work extremely well on more aircraft every day. The pull out of a hover is great and the downline braking is better with that larger disc and lower pitch.

Jeremy,

Thanks for the update on the 32C. That's very useful information! I'm glad you're having fun in the HOT air....we have 100 deg in Raleigh with high humidity, too, so you're not alone...at least this week!

[excelpoint]

Rusty the downline brakeing seems to be as good if not better the the Mesjlik I was using