How a Constant Speed Propeller Works - Simple Explanation 

Projectile nose coffee this morning. My wife just looked at me like I was dumb when I replayed and tried to explain. Thanks Bryan!!!

If more people had your sense of humor and sarcasm, the world would be a much better place 😂

Before ETPs (Electronic Tuning and Pitch), we used to have to verify pitch using a set of tuning forks. Hold the fork for your desired pitch up to your ear, then pull the knob until the prop pitch matches the tuning fork. I liked flying a little sharp of pitch, but there are those that prefer flat of pitch.

As a musician, I am really glad you included the pitch explanation and that you have your airplane in tune. Very important!

You are absolutely correct about the pitch of the fixed pitch prop. Unfortunately you completely failed to mention that the chord of the blade is what creates that pitch.

This is gold. Not many comics in aviation that flex it for the public.

I bought a variable pitch prop. It can throw fastballs, sliders, curveballs for turns and when it hits bugs it throws a spitball.

The video of the prop changing pitch was legitimately cool. The little winglets on your prop make it much easier to see what it's doing. You might consider releasing a clip of just that with a voiceover for educational purposes. Also the bit about the "left end of the bell curve or the FAA".....bravo

I don't think you mentioned, so I will. Many two engine propeller aircraft have a propeller synchronization doohickey that will detect if one engine is out of key and help the pilot tune the pitch to maximize passenger comfort.

What if person watching falls into both categories? Member of FAA AND on the other side of the bell curve? And just in case, the FAA is reading comments, I personally don’t think that’s possible.

The pitches you have available depend on the temperament of the prop. Equal temperament flies differently than well temperament which flies differently than, say, quarter-comma meantone. This is why, when you're getting your complex airplane endorsement, you should make sure your CFI is well grounded in music theory.

‘…people who are on that side of the bell curve….’ love it!!

Hi from the UK. That ending nearly made me drop me tea LOL Awesome video. Thanks for posting.

HOLY MOLY! I thought my plane was being dumb, but now i see yours doing same thing! Swapping rotation direction is it being smart! now i can scrub expensive purchase of a new rubber band and instead spend the money on better polystyrene wings. Thanks BrYan. You are more of a pre-legend than you already know! :) 🙂🙃

I love how you put your hand through the prop. Insane that after the prop chopped your hand off, you were able to pull away intact as if nothing happened. Good video 😂

“Whoosh whoosh sound…” too frikken funny…. Always a great way to start the week.

This is so awesome! Great video and i absolutely dig the sense of humor. Lots of fun.

**kicks dirt** Nobody told me I have to also learn music theory to be a pilot.

I never thought I would be learning things in aviation with music notes, you are truly amazing thank you !

I now have such a better understanding - Thank you! 🤪 And yes the more levers, buttons, and knobs = makes me look more impressive as a pilot (I need all the help I can get)

Proper key. Now I understand the "Airplane" reference about flying on instruments!

I understand that you should use the key of B for Bravo airspace, C for Charlie, etc. but I'm still unfamiliar on when to use a major vs a minor scale. Are majors for departures and minors for landings or is it the other way round? What about if you are just staying in the pattern and doing touch-and-goes? Help me Bryan with a Y!

Choose your own adventure props sounds like the best of both worlds. Allows you to run the engine at a much higher RPM

I'm guessing this is also a good explanation of why the church organist is sooooo cool. Have you seen all the knobs on an organ? Way more than a plane, and come to think of it, they also have more foot pedals! Whole new level!

Thanks for explaining this! ...and for what it's worth, I don't think I've ever watched a Martin Pauley video where he uses slow motion. So, you win! 😜

That's gonna fill up a punch card!! Great video, thanks.

Until that warning at the end I was preparing to go to the airport and touch my spinning propeller 🤣🤣 I guess I'll just have to settle for pressing random switches instead 😉

I wish you a speedy recovery with that hand you lost to show people how dangerous it is.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha The funniest gag on constant speed propps! I am on the flor here! You are the best Bryan! Cheers from Stockholm Sweden!!!

Also don’t forget the Pitch-Factor sometimes called p-factor changes the sound during climbs so only check in level flight!

Work of art.... like always!

You are seriously a certified nut. Never (Evah) change.

👍☑Now that was way to serious BrYan, are you feeling ok? LOL Loved it as always.

"that side of the Bell Curve".... cracked me up!

Now I know what I need to do when polishing my spinner! That looks so easy and safe! (Sort of?) I also noticed the error you had at the end. Im sure you can sew it back on. Remember, when playing with "Pitches you get Stitches"🤣

I thought the constant speed prop allowed you to climb, descend, park, turn, and level off while holding one speed only.

This is amazing.

Love the LiteSpeeds Bryan. At least you got the knob color right :)

Man that show of a tuner was awesome, I cra(n)cked 😄

Very informative video. I’m so glad I watched this!!! I have a couple quick questions about propellers I was hoping you’d be able to answer. Are most propellers right handed or left handed pitchers? How can I tell if my propeller is a right or left handed pitcher? Where can I obtain one of those transparent propellers I keep hearing pilots asking for? Any assistance with these questions or advice would be greatly appreciated :-)

It's like a transmission for a plane. Enjoyed the video.

I had a good laugh! Thank you!

Great video and Hollywood quality special effects! 😂 Working on my instrument rating out of 52F myself 😉

Thanks for standing right in front of a rotating propeller blade for our need to learn

Bryan!!!!! Some things are ok to show and certain things are not!!!! Like Brown spots in your britches!!! OMG!!! 😂😂😂 I love your sense of humor, but hopefully the villagers won’t try that idea out next!!! The key of G can be a horrible sound when you get to close to the noise maker!!!!

The prop clause.... Gotta have it!

Next week we look at advanced techniques, such as using a guitar tuner to perfectly synchronize your propellers on a twin engine aircraft...

What earned my like is the check check step bros bit😂😂

More controls and buttons, like blend, puree, dice, and crush like one would find on a blender. Love your vids, Bryan.

So that's what that means, judging by the video if you push on the little blue lever the prop turns clockwise and if you pull it goes counter clock wise which would aid in backing the plane into your slip.

'If you fall on *that* side of the bell curve', hilarious!

Lol, took me a second. New subscriber here!

Best description is it's like overdrive for your plane. At altitude the motor can operate at peak torque rpm and pitch the prop till it slows 20 rpm and then back off slightly. Should be the best you're gonna get, except a tail wind.

Excellent humor as always 🤣 Nice videography on the prop changing pitch. Cold!? ❄️🥶. Can't see your breath and no frozen moisture. Fail, not cold. 😁

Since I fly a fixed-pitch Archer III, I'll need to consult you for advice on how to tune the pitch to one with a more pleasant tone. And I probably should have watched to the end before running out and touching the spinner as the prop rotated...

It is essential that you do not pitch for the “S” note in flight. Very messy situation, especially with pax.

I love the vid, and I must admit I got anxious with you standing in front of a plane trying its best to get to you to make hamburger lol. Question from someone with no professional aviation experience, what is the difference between the variable pitch you showed here and the constant speed props that are actuated be weights and centrifugal force? I always assumed those were "constant speed" and the one you showed was "Variable Pitch" with the old school props beinf "Fixed Pitch". I know a lot of this was satire, so if im just missing the joke Ill see myself out lol.

You are scary, BrYan, but funny. Thanks for the disclaimer, especially the FAA part of it, I was dying when you said that. I DO appreciate the slo-mo on the angle of the blade for climb versus cruise. This has never made sense to me, in that in climb you seem to have a lower angle, versus in cruise when you have a larger angle, but slower speed. But, that's okay, I just trust those people who are talking about it that they know what they're talking about and would never pet the spinner or stand 18" in front of the prop. :D

"Hello BrYan, we're calling you today from the North Tx FSDO in regards to your airplane's extended warranty..." 😜

at 6:20: What's silver and flies across the airport? Bryan's Rolex. "Bryan! Where's your ticket for the flight??" "Umm....... I don't know,......... it was in my hand a moment ago..."

Sooo that's how those things work! I thin kI am ready for my A&P exam now!!

Fan tastic Proper funny great tips

DAMMIT!!!! When am I gonna learn to NOT have a mouthful of food or drink when watching your videos?!?! I’ve wrecked more than one screen and keyboard spraying them with chunks and liquids!!!😂😂😂

Move over Jason Schappert and King Schools and make way for Bryan Turner's Flying School for all your aviation edumucation needs..... Bryan (with a Y) suuuuuuuuuure knows his stuff......

Now I understand! Pitch explains it all. Sharp or flat? Does this apply to paint jobs, tires and wheel pants? Do you have corduroy wheel pants, or bell bottoms? Are your tires sharp or flat? How about my humor? Flat, or lame? Yes, I heard, don’t give up your day job, Jim. Feel free to join me in Rio Linda. There is an airport.

For a new pilot, it's a bit confusing. Luckily, I'm a musician, and I was able to figure it out. I did have to go back and delete in my mind much of what you said early in the video. I do appreciate the content, none the less. Perhaps a disclaimer from the start. Just feedback, all good vibes.

Looks like a great way to polish the nose cone… hehe

The logical next step is to play a tune on your prop. If you have a twin engine plane you can even accompany yourself!

BrYan, you are A Sharp pilot.

What about a constant speed airplanes!? Why do just the propeller?

We dont fly by sound, how about start, taki, take off, landing settings and adjustments?

I'm definitely on that side of the bell curve, but even I know it's video editing. also, I hope your hand heals

Why do you wince when you say departing to the west before taking off. Did you have a bad experience out west?

"Beethoven's 5th" and you're a lock for "America's Got Talent". Or at least "Bryan's got talent".

I’d like to hear an airplane orchestra!

my friend doesn't work for the FAA.. does that mean it is ok for them to touch the spinning propeller ?

I notice that turbo props always have a much steeper angle by default on the prop. And more blades. Why is that?

...now I just feel silly and a little embarrassed for spending all that money on my ground school. These videos are way more helpful, and I'm a better student for watching them.

I watched a constant speedo Keanu in a movie about a bus once

CAN I BUY A KEY OF D SPRING PROP FOR MY LIVING ROOM?

2:15 That look on his face while saying the direction. I've had that same look, I'm sure, as I'm trying to quickly think: 👆 Never 👉 Eat 👇 Soggy 👈 Waffles 😉

I PANICKED then I remembered what channel I was on 🤣🤣

What key is it when a fixed pitch prop departs the plane mid flight? Asking for a friend

Can you play the latest hits with your propeller? Muhaha with the intro.

Always checking the knobs when flying. The more the merrier... 🤣🤣

Love the satire ... and yeah, Spit my coffee 🤣 (Subbed). What actually happens between the blue knob and the propeller to MAKE it variable, may have been an interesting component of "How a constant speed propeller works" "The advantages of a constant speed propeller", may have been a better title for this one (Sorry, I'm new at BEING satirical ... does it show?) 🤔 But seriously, Well done - Carry on ... ^v^

More Knobs. That explains a lot. About a lot of things.

I am jealous of your special knob! Your plane has far too many of them!

Lol I did not see the “Key” coming, but then I starting trying to harmonize with it.

So much easier to polish the spinner while it is turning.

"It's just a flesh wound." - The Dark Knight

I’m well within the 3-Sigma, but can I call you if I ever need to hand start my engine? You’re not afraid of that prop.

1:05 is that a Cherokee 235 or a Dakota?

Love a good knob job when flying😂

Hell yeah

Nobody likes to run flat...thanks for sticking to whole note pitch changes 👍

The video was super useful right up until you got to 4:55, when I became very confused.

I prefer to fly in G key and airspace lol 🤣

This disinformation has helped my flying immeasurably...no really - I can't measure it! Heh heh heh...

How does a constant speed prop work? Just fine!!!