Okay, this prop is a game changer! It is an order of magnitude better than the 13 x 4.5... at least on my Crossfire.

I flew it yesterday morning. I first flew the 13 x 4.5 APC to get a baseline feel and a baseline of battery useage. My launch rpm according to the Will Hubin prog box was 8,844. But, when Tom Hampshire checked it with a handheld Glo Bee tach, it was actually 9660 rpm. It matters not to me what the actual rpm is; I only want the readings to be relative to themselves on either device (programmer or tach).

I'm using Hyperion 4S 4,000 mAh batteries. After the first run with the 13 x 4.5 prop I recharged the battery and it took 2,225 mAh. After the second flight with the 13 x 5.5 WEP the battery took 2,352 mAh. The flights were back to back in precisely the same air conditions, so it looks like the WEP uses a bit more power from the battery due to its increased pitch, thickness and weight. No biggie at all.

The lap times on the 13 x 4.5 prop were 5.37. I changed nothing but the prop for the second flight and the lap times went to 5.32. Again, no biggie. Also, when Tom checked the rpm with the Glo Bee tach for the flight with the WEP prop, it was 9630 rpm. I wish I'd had time to do several more flights, but I had to go to work, so further testing will have to wait a while. I can tell you this; the 13 x 5.5 prop is going to stay on the Crossfire! It increased line tension noticeably and locked the model firmly onto the inside of the hemisphere. It was much, much more positive. I will decrease the rpm to get to the lap times that I was flying at the Nats (5.6 to 5.8 seconds) and report how that feels at that time.

I'd like to coat the new prop with a layer of .2 carbon mat on both the front and back and see if further improvement is seen. It is looking like the stiffness of the 13 x 5.5 WEP compared to the 13 x 4.5 is what is really making the difference in performance. Of course, that is just my opinion, and is one based on first impressions of the new prop. I can tell you this, APC and Dennis Adamisin are most certainly going in the right direction!

Bob Hunt