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3-blade Sensenich vs Catto tested back-to-back

F

FitzRX7

Well Known Member
Patron
Hey everyone, just wanted to take a minute to write down my thoughts about the Sensenich 3 blade ground adjustable vs. the Catto 3 blade. I've had the Catto on the airplane for about 5 years and have loved the prop, but an opportunity to test this Sensenich came up and I couldn't pass it up.

BLUF: The Catto is awesome, but I love the Sensenich just a tiny bit more.

Ok, so before I lay down the test numbers a little bit about some of the subjective things and pros/cons. Both props look awesome, both have exceptional spinners that can be purchased with them, mine are 12". Both are smooth running and quieter than older metal props, however from the back-to-back test the Sensenich felt smoother and seemed quieter. The Catto is a wood core with composite laminated onto the core, while the Sensenich is a hollow full carbon blade. Both props have a metal leading edge, Catto is nickel and the Sensenich is stainless steel.

The weight differences are not as much as you would think. With the Catto you need to use a 2lb crush plate to hold the prop on, which is not used for the Sensenich. Total installed weight for the Catto (minus spinner) is 16lbs, where the Sensenich comes in right at 19lbs. Both spinners weight approximately 2lbs.

Sensenich 3F0M7-C68NF 3 blade
http://www.sensenich.com/shop/aircraft/3-blade-lycoming-o-320-o-360-ground-adjustable-high-speed-propeller/

Catto Glass/2x Carbon Composite 3-Blade, 67"x72" pitch, May 2016
https://www.cattoprops.com/rv4/

So here were my test results on my RV-4, O-320 160hp. The # with Sensenich is the pitch setting, #2 is max climb and #7 max cruise pitch.
Static RPM:
Catto 3B: 2180, 29.0"hg
Sens #7: 2070, 28.8"hg
Sens #6: 2090, 29.1"hg


(RPM/KIAS/KTAS/"HG)
8000' pressure altitude:
Catto 3B: 2770/147KIAS/172KTAS/21.7....2400/125KIAS/145KTAS/18.5
Sens.#6: 2690/147KIAS/170KTAS/21.8...2400/128KIAS/150KTAS/19.0
Sens.#7: 2610/146KIAS/170KTAS/21.8...2400/131KIAS/154KTAS/19.9

6000' pressure altitude
Catto 6k: 2800/155KIAS/174KTAS/23.4....2400/128KIAS/146KTAS/20.0
Sens.#6: 2730/153KIAS/173KTAS/23.4...2400/133KIAS/150KTAS/20.3
Sens.#7: 2610/150KIAS/168KTAS/23.5...2400/138KIAS/156KTAS/20.5

I'm very pleased with the results, I think I'm going to leave it in #7 pitch for the majority of my XC flying and carry the pitch pins with me to change to #5 for airshows or mountain flying. I still need to test #5 just to see if I can eek out a knot or two faster than the Catto, I think it can do it.

Hope yall enjoyed the review, let me know if there are any questions!

Fitz
KC Flight Formation Team
RV-4 N1234R
O-320 160hp, dual P-Mags, G3X
 
Last edited:
Jvon811 said:
What's the pitch on your Catto? Catto website shows 3 different pitches available.
Click to expand...

Fixed above (72"), thanks!

Also, one thing I forgot to mention that's a plus for Catto, if you intend to do a crush plate-style nose weight that isn't possible on the Sensenich. I have a Landol balancer on my flywheel which serves that purpose for me, I thought there were other flywheel mounted weights that could be used but I haven't researched it. So keep that in mind if you're looking to make the switch from a heavier metal prop.

Fitz
 
Did you do any other testing? Did you test takeoff distance, ROC at fixed airspeed? Another one that would be rather subjective (I don't know how you could test it) is relative braking action? Maybe a timed deceleration from 160mph to 100? Top speed is one thing, but I'm curious how else the prop handles in a regular flight.

I think it's just a great opportunity to test different things since you have both props there.
 
I did ROC at Vy which is about 97KIAS and both delivered around 1000fpm at 4-6k'. Didn't do any decel or takeoff distance testing, performance felt similar.
 
johnpaul44 said:
how are you liking the Sensenich 3 blade? I'm in the same boat as you, currently have 3 blade catto thinking of going ground adjustable 3 blade Sensenich
Click to expand...
I went with it and love the prop. The pitch adjustments are awesome. I use pin 6 which Sensenich told me was more of a super cruise and it works great for cross countries in the low country. Pin 4 is great for climb and tested at Leadville in the Rockies. It preformed flawlessly. This is in my RV-8A.
 
Still loving it. Service has been outstanding, factory is very quick with support or any questions. I do wish they extended the LE shield just a little bit closer to the hub, I had some erosion that required a minor epoxy repair due to flying in a decent amount of rain at fairly high RPM (2500ish). I could add some helicopter tape to the LE there but I don't want to sacrifice efficiency. About to put a mildly upgraded 320 on the plane (LyCon port/polish and 10:1) so I'm loving that all I'll need to do is pitch it a pin gauge or two higher, no multiple months long wait for a repitch shipped across the country. Easy!
 
Jvon811 said:
Did you do any other testing? Did you test takeoff distance, ROC at fixed airspeed? Another one that would be rather subjective (I don't know how you could test it) is relative braking action? Maybe a timed deceleration from 160mph to 100? Top speed is one thing, but I'm curious how else the prop handles in a regular flight.

I think it's just a great opportunity to test different things since you have both props there.
Click to expand...
My RV-6 with O-320 has the 3-blade Sensenich propeller with a landoll damper on the flywheel. Previously it flew with 2 different wood and a metal fixed pitch Sensenich. Most of my comments are "subjective but reasonably accurate". The wood propellers were pitched to get 8,000 ft agl full throttle rpm 2700rpm. The metal sensenich was pitched to get 8,000 foot agl full throttle 2600 rpm.

I am currently flying the Sensenich GA with pitch pin #3 (climb pitch). I had flown the Sensenich GA with pitch pins #3, #4, #5, and #6. Pin #3 is definitely a climb setting. Pin #4 seems like a compromise setting. Pins #5 and #6 seem like cruise settings.

The static RPM for the GA is lower than my old fixed pitch props. The RPM increases more than the fixed pitch props for the GA upon acceleration to Vx and Vy. The GA take off distance is shorter. The GA climbs better than the fixed pitch props with pins #3 and #4, and similar to the fixed pitch for pins #5 and #6. The GA rate of climb is better for each airspeed than the fixed pitch props. The GA definitely decelerates more than any of the other propellers. Final approach at 80mph is noticeably steeper and higher sink rate than the other fixed props. In regular flight it handles well. It seems to respond quicker to slight pitch changes. At cruise rpm 2300 to 2700 it is very smooth. All my subjective comments are positive for the 3-blade Sensenich GA propeller on my RV-6. I wish that flight comparison between the 3-blade and 2-blade GA could be reported.
 
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