manual: confusing sentence

EmergencyButter

"A windmilling propeller can be locked in place with the compression of the cylinders, but
a much lower airspeed is required to stop the propeller than can be achieved without it rotating
afterwards."

Maybe it's my simple English but I can't understand this.i suggest rephrasing with a couple sentences. Or you can tell me I should read better, it's also ok.

Thanks

jmarkows

I think it's trying to say you actually can't slow the airspeed enough to stop it from rotating, but I agree it's definitely a cumbersome sentence.

Black Square

I've read that sentence myself several times trying to think of how to improve it. As you know, I write all my manuals myself, so the time I can devote to a single sentence is unfortunately low.

Here's the scenario...

Cruising at 180kts: Prop windmills after shutdown.
Slow to 100kts: Prop stops and lock into compression well.
Accelerate to 130kts: Prop will remain stopped and not begin windmilling again.

yawstring

How about this?

"A windmilling propeller can be locked in place by the compression of the cylinders. A relatively slow airspeed is required to stop the propeller initially, but once it has stopped, the airspeed can be increased considerably before the propeller will start windmilling again."

Feel free to use this if you like it.

Black Square

@yawstring Perfection! I hope you don't mind if I do! Couldn't have written it better myself.

jmarkows

Now that I understand the point you are trying to convey, the original sentence makes so much more sense

Good job summarizing @yawstring!

EmergencyButter

Thanks all!

yawstring

@Black-Square Thanks! As I say, I'd be happy for you to use this.

Very cool that this is modelled BTW. Haven't tried it yet, but someday soon I'll have to pull the mixture overhead a nice big runway...