The Power of Modifying Your Prop and Wings

One of the quickest and easiest ways to increase the thrust of a modestly-powered engine is via the propeller.

Wednesday, October 05, 2022 at 09:02 AM ET

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When a more powerful engine upgrade is out of the budget, the wing and propeller are the next best places to find untapped takeoff performance. [Courtesy: Chris Litzkow]

Key Takeaways:

The author faced uncomfortable takeoffs due to his 1953 Cessna 170's weak performance and misleading wind conditions, making him frequently wish for a more powerful engine.
Instead of expensive engine upgrades, he opted for two performance modifications to improve takeoff and overall flight characteristics.
He ordered an 80/42 seaplane propeller, which will significantly increase takeoff thrust at the cost of cruise speed, intending to swap it with his existing prop for different flight types.
He also purchased a Sportsman STOL kit, expected to drastically reduce takeoff and landing distances, improve slow flight, and nearly double the aircraft's glide ratio.

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The windsock at my home airfield is a liar, and I no longer trust it. Last week, it convinced me to take off with a light tailwind on a warm day with a passenger aboard. Disaster was never imminent, but the takeoff was quite uncomfortable.

The prevailing winds, the winds at surrounding airports, and the weather briefing I received prior to the flight all indicated that Runway 13 was the one to use. During the 15 to 20 minutes leading up to my departure, however, the windsock lazily swung around and slightly rose to show a light wind from the opposite direction. It stayed there, and so, I chose Runway 31 for the takeoff.