I was planning on changing the stock prop to a Parkzone 3 blade Prop 8.7 x 6
part number PKZ1015. I'm interested in knowing if anyone has tried this specific change and how the outcome was. It seems to sound louder and in hand has more pull, but I've not launched yet. I also was planning on upgrading the ESC to a 30A. My hope is to really gain more thrust, not necessarily more speed.

Comments on this subject appreciated.

If thrust is what you are after, your best bet is to to a "larger than stock" diameter two-blade prop (if it will fit!)....3-blade props tend to be less efficient than 2-blade, and 3-4 blades are typically only used when you have clearance issues.

Interesting... so a 3 blade doesn't buy me thrust, what about speed? Clearance is not really an issue, I have retracts installed so plenty of height. If I do go with the bigger 2 blade, is it still appropriate to increase the ESC rating as well? Most of the threads and videos I seen seem to indicate that the bigger 2 blade makes it go faster.

A bigger esc tho possibly uneeded will never hurt. The only draw back is the added size, weight and cost. 2 blades are more efficient than 3 and 4 blades. 3 blades will get you thrust but you can get more for the same amount of amps you r pulling with a 2 blade. The first number on the prop is the diameter, and the second is the pitch. The second number is where your speed comes in. The stock prop is a 9x6, and you want a 8.7x6x3. So you are going to be pulling more A and getting about the same as the stock prop anyways. If speed is what you are after, try the 9x7.5

and if you are going to mess around with different props, the 30A is a must, as I can only guess it runs pretty close to 18A stock anyways. Whatever you do, always check it with a wattmeter before flight.

Actually I was wrong, the bag was miss marked. The pkz1015 is a 9 x 7.5. I'm picking up
the 30A ESC today. Anxious to try some tests. I'm thinking about making some sort
of strain gauge to actually measure if one pulls more than the other. If anyone has an idea on an easy way to measure that, fire away.

Originally Posted by rplucky1

Actually I was wrong, the bag was miss marked. The pkz1015 is a 9 x 7.5. I'm picking up
the 30A ESC today. Anxious to try some tests. I'm thinking about making some sort
of strain gauge to actually measure if one pulls more than the other. If anyone has an idea on an easy way to measure that, fire away.

The image shows the vertical arrangement for planes without landing gear. If you have landing gear it can be used horizontally. I got the hanging scale on eBay for a nominal cost.

Jack