Empirical Propeller Mass Sizing for Small-Scale Aircraft

Abstract

The weight of propellers significantly impacts the performance of small unmanned aircraft, influencing factors such as flight duration, maneuverability, and energy efficiency. While typically still a small part of the total weight, propellers play an important in the weight and balance especially if the propeller is at an extreme location on the aircraft. In the context of distributed electric propulsion systems, where numerous propellers are used, the precise estimation of propeller mass becomes critical for ensuring performance. Using a large database of over 1,200 propeller masses, multiple empirical models were created for different propeller series from seven manufacturers. These models range from propeller diameters of 4 inches to 27 inches. In addition to the empirical models, a comparison between measured mass values and those provided by manufacturers is performed. Finally, an equation used to estimate the weight of full-scale propellers is applied to the small-scale propellers of this study.