Similar Terminology

[Rusty]

Hello,

Just wondering. 

When an R/C airplane engine quits in flight, it is called a "Dead Stick."

When an U/C airplane engine quits in flight, is that called a "Dead Handle?"

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

Dead stick refers to the prop, I always thought.

[Dan McEntee]

  In full scale parlance, you will be found "dead at the stick"  if you run out of airspeed, altitude and ideas all at the same time!!  Peter may be correct. With no power and the prop just a decoration on the nose, it's just as useful as a dead stick!!

  It's like the question, why do we drive on a parkway and park in a driveway!! The English language can get all jumbled up with slang and these days it's just getting worse! It wouldn't be this way of people didn't accept it as "normal." Especial in business dealings, even if it's shopping and checking out at Wal-Mart!

  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Dave Moritz]

My small engine shop teacher, back in 1969, told us guys that every engine was a one cycle engine. There was no such thing as a “two cycle” or “four cycle” engine. He went on to explain that some engines had four strokes per cycle while others had two strokes per cycle. I see that many petrol product producers refuse to correct the error and still don’t use correct terms like two stroke and four stroke.

So there you have it, welcome or not!

Dave Mo…

[Rusty]

Interesting.   I thought the stick part was because the term was coined when aircraft had sticks to control it, not a yoke.  Why would they call the propeller a "stick?"  Why not "dead propeller" landing? 

So, okay.  A landing with the engine running would be a "live stick" landing.  Right?

[Rusty]

My small engine shop teacher, back in 1969, told us guys that every engine was a one cycle engine. There was no such thing as a “two cycle” or “four cycle” engine. He went on to explain that some engines had four strokes per cycle while others had two strokes per cycle. I see that many petrol product producers refuse to correct the error and still don’t use correct terms like two stroke and four stroke.

So there you have it, welcome or not!

Dave Mo…

Okay.  Why did they call them "internal combustion" engines?  Was there an "external combustion" engine? 

[John Rist]

Okay.  Why did they call them "internal combustion" engines?  Was there an "external combustion" engine?

Yes! it's called a steam engine. 

[John Park]

In the early days of aviation, props. were generally two-bladers, made of wood - the 'stick'.  When it wasn't going round, it was 'dead'.  A landing with the prop. stationary was a dead-stick landing - depressingly common in the not-so-good old days of unreliable engines.  The control column, or 'joystick', had nothing to do with it.  It really is as simple as that.

[Rusty]

John Rist and John Park are stunt hangar jeopardy champions.  Congrats

[Dan McEntee]

Okay.  Why did they call them "internal combustion" engines?  Was there an "external combustion" engine?

   They are internal combustion ENGINES, because that is where the power is produced for it to run. It's the difference between a MOTOR and an ENGINE. I was taught that an ENGINE produced it's power internally through the use of fuel. As such, and IC ENGINE requires fuel that by itself, just sits there. STEAM ENGINES produce their power internally from a fired boiler that is fed fuel such as wood or oil. A MOTOR, such as an electric MOTOR, requires the power to be introduced to it from another source, such as a battery or an electrical cord. I think devices driven by compressed air or compressed CO-2 are considered motors. And I'm sure that these points as presented can be argued about all night if enough beer is present to fuel the discussion, which would make that discussion and ENGINE!!, I think!!!
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Ken Culbertson]

So, should we call an 8" long 1/2" square piece of maple an "Engine Mount"?  I guess some do.  Maybe that is why Detroit died.  They found out cars used engines and "Engine Town"?   Nah

Ken

[Rusty]

   They are internal combustion ENGINES, because that is where the power is produced for it to run. It's the difference between a MOTOR and an ENGINE. I was taught that an ENGINE produced it's power internally through the use of fuel. As such, and IC ENGINE requires fuel that by itself, just sits there. STEAM ENGINES produce their power internally from a fired boiler that is fed fuel such as wood or oil. A MOTOR, such as an electric MOTOR, requires the power to be introduced to it from another source, such as a battery or an electrical cord. I think devices driven by compressed air or compressed CO-2 are considered motors. And I'm sure that these points as presented can be argued about all night if enough beer is present to fuel the discussion, which would make that discussion and ENGINE!!, I think!!!
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

 What classification is the a "rubber band motor?"  It may be an internal energy motor, due the stored power of the twisted rubber band. 

[Ken Culbertson]

What classification is the a "rubber band motor?"  It may be an internal energy motor, due the stored power of the twisted rubber band. 

It's a mogine. 

Ken

[Jim Kraft]

   I knew a guy many years ago who sprayed crops with a Stearman biplane. He swore that the prop was to keep the pilot cool. He said when it stopped, the pilot would begin to sweat.

  He also sprayed crops next to a lake, and had to make his turn arounds over water. He said as soon as he got over water the engine would begin to run rough, but as he headed back toward land it began to smooth out. He admitted it was his fear of having to land in the water that made him think the difference in the engine over water or over land.

   Dead stick has always meant the prop has stopped. In control line stunt, we always land dead stick. Free flights also land dead stick. Before my Grandson became an airline pilot, he use to fly pipelines. After having to land on dirt roads twice from engine failure, he did other things to support his schooling to get His commercial airline pilots license. The pipeline flying company he worked for were a little lax in maintenance. He knew what dead stick meant first hand.

[Rusty]

   I knew a guy many years ago who sprayed crops with a Stearman biplane. He swore that the prop was to keep the pilot cool. He said when it stopped, the pilot would begin to sweat.

  He also sprayed crops next to a lake, and had to make his turn arounds over water. He said as soon as he got over water the engine would begin to run rough, but as he headed back toward land it began to smooth out. He admitted it was his fear of having to land in the water that made him think the difference in the engine over water or over land.

   Dead stick has always meant the prop has stopped. In control line stunt, we always land dead stick. Free flights also land dead stick. Before my Grandson became an airline pilot, he use to fly pipelines. After having to land on dirt roads twice from engine failure, he did other things to support his schooling to get His commercial airline pilots license. The pipeline flying company he worked for were a little lax in maintenance. He knew what dead stick meant first hand.

Nice story.   My post is made under the literary term: humor.  However, you must note that I have made C/L landings that were live stick and they broke the stick, referred to by some as a prop.