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Ever wondered how a constant-speed propeller works? We’ve covered how variable pitch propellers operate and tackled the science behind fixed-pitch propellers. So this week we’re taking a look at how constant-speed propellers power us through the skies.

Constant-speed propellers are variable pitch propellers that automatically change pitch so that they maintain a constant rotational speed. Constant-speed propellers are able to partly rotate along their longest axis to take a greater or lesser bite of the air depending on the plane’s speed. These constant-speed propellers are especially critical for today’s modern aircraft engines.

The first constant-speed propellers were driven by centrifugal force, and operated in much the same way as the Watts governor that limited the speed of steam engines in the early half of the 20^th century. Once the constant-speed propeller reached a specified number of rotations per minute, centrifugal forces caused weights to swing outward, twisting the propeller blades so they achieved a steeper pitch. As the airplane slowed, so too did the rotations, which eventually pushed the weights back in, twisting the constant-speed propeller back to its original, shallower pitch.

Today, propeller governors are fitted to propellers to automatically change their pitch, which helps keep engine speed constant. In newer models, the actions of the constant-speed propeller are achieved by pumping oil through the propeller shaft, which pushes a piston that controls the mechanism that alters the pitch of the blades. As air speed increases, flyweights pull outward, compressing the speed spring, which moves the piston forward and allows the pilot valve to open on the oil sump and release oil in the governor hub.

It’s the propeller governor that controls the flow of this oil. This mechanism allows the engine to continue operating at its optimum speed, no matter what the actual speed of the aircraft itself as it moves through the air. This increased oil pressure alters the propeller pitch, slowing it to the correct RPM setting for optimum performance. As airspeed is lost, this process happens in reverse: the flyweights move inward, tension releases the spring, and the piston moves in the opposite direction, allowing oil to flow from the hub back to the oil sump.

So, there you have it. Constant-speed propellers today will automatically change the pitch of your propellers many times as you fly without you even noticing it, increasing the overall fuel efficiency and performance of your aircraft.