I had my forth flight yesterday.  I am still just circling the field.  Everything was going well. Temps and pressures were all well in the green and I was "playing' (ok, a kinda cavalier term for testing) with prop pitch, trim and power settings when I suddenly felt a distinct, slight to moderate vibration coming from the rear of the plane.  I called the tower and with calm winds was cleared for any runway.  I did a tight right turn to 22 and landed.  Has it been mentioned that these canards really don't want to land...I floated quite a bit down the runway...gotta not try to bleed off speed by slightly lifting the nose.....damned bad Cessna habits ;-)

 

Anyway, I landed and taxied back to the hangar, the vibration had stopped.  I got out and did my quick inspection and it was immediately obvious that one of the prop leading edge tapes had departed the craft and another was starting to tear off.  Well, at least it seems I quickly discovered the problem...kinda what testing is all about.

 

This is an IVO in flight adjustable prop on my Velocity.  I have been using the stainless steel prop tape as provided by IVO.  I used the same tape during ground testing, but replaced it all just before first flight.  Interestingly, it was pretty difficult to get off...as in it required quite a bit of force.  I did have some issue with the tape un-attaching a bit during ground testing at the edges but had hoped it would be okay once I replaced it and secured it better.

 

IVO has an online video showing how to install.  It is quite straight forward, but I did note they now add some superglue to the edges of the tape.  I do not recall that being a part of it when I got the prop, however, I did see the video before the latest tape replacement and I DID add the superglue to the leading edge.  I also was very thorough when cleaning the prop before adding the tape....I think I used Acetone for this step.

 

Anyway, I have not had success with the method in the video. I was thinking of masking off the prop except where the tape goes and applying some of the 3M Super 77 (I think it is the 77...red can) to attach the tape.  I had good success with this when sticking sandpaper to long I-beams for sanding my wings, needing heat to ultimatley removing it...alas, sanding blocks and props are two different creatures.

 

So? What say ye?  Ideas, comments etc.  I had one person mention that they don't like the tape but understand its use to help protect the prop.  Do we know if it is doing more than protecting from minor fod and, I guess rain??

 

Thanks in advance folks.

 

Chris