Autofeather
Encyclopedia
Autofeather is a feature of the engines on some turboprop
or piston engine aircraft. When the power being produced by the engine drops to the point where it is not contributing to thrust, the propeller will go into a feathered
mode to reduce drag
.
The auto feather system also allows pilots to reduce the drag of the propellers during an engine failure, therefore, allowing the plane to glide for a longer period of time.
An automatic feathering system was first introduced on the Martin 4-0-4
aircraft, a piston engine airplane. The system was designed to automatically feather an engine that failed during takeoff or initial climb.
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
or piston engine aircraft. When the power being produced by the engine drops to the point where it is not contributing to thrust, the propeller will go into a feathered
Feathering (disambiguation)
Feathering may refer to:* Feathering, a technique used in computer graphics to blur edges.* Feathering , an atmospheric reentry technique for spacecraft...
mode to reduce drag
Drag (physics)
In fluid dynamics, drag refers to forces which act on a solid object in the direction of the relative fluid flow velocity...
.
The auto feather system also allows pilots to reduce the drag of the propellers during an engine failure, therefore, allowing the plane to glide for a longer period of time.
An automatic feathering system was first introduced on the Martin 4-0-4
Martin 4-0-4
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Andrade, John. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979, pp. 95, 217. ISBN 0-904597-22-9....
aircraft, a piston engine airplane. The system was designed to automatically feather an engine that failed during takeoff or initial climb.