Rotation direction of an engine.

[liebensd]

Do someone know if the engines of an aircraft turn in the same direction or in opposite direction. I also asked this on the open door of SNBA but I am not satisfied with the answer. They told me that all the engines turning direction is to the right, but could not give me a technical correct answer to my question. When an old aircraft with one engine was flying on a straight line the pilot needed to correct the aircraft by turning the ruder to the left because of the engine made some gyroscopic effect and wanted to turn the aircraft to the right.


Greetz,

Dave

[Avro]

Well, I suppose that it all depends on how the fan blades are inclined. Since they are all inclined in the same direction on every engines, they will all rotate in the same direction. So you will probable not be able to find planes where the engine blades are turning in another direction.

I don't kow if this is right, I'm just guessing

Chris
8)

[OOODF]

Good evening,

On most single engine prop planes, rotation would be clockwise, as seen from the cockpit.

As for multiengine prop planes (2 engines), some have both props rotating clockwise, some have one rotating clockwise and the other, well, rotating the other way to neutralize torque and aerodynamic effects.

The P38 Lighting, if I'm not mistaken, is an exemple of the latter.

[A318]

Rotation clock wise from the cockpit, both engines. Gyroscopic effect is now solved with pitch control.

Erwin

[L-1011]

Indeed it would seems strange for manufacturers to build two types of engines, the ones for the right and the ones for the left. This would imply a terrible complication.

For a propeller aircraft such a gyro effect would be far more important than for a turbofan.

ciao,
TriStar

[liebensd]

Thanks for the info,

Greetz,

Dave

[Lame]

Not sure about military aircraft, but certainly on airliners, all engines on each aircraft definitely turn in the same direction.

Just be careful when reading a technical specification for the engine, or if you are telling anyone, you should state (or will read) that an engine rotates either clockwise OR anti (counter) clockwise, and specify whether this is ALF (aft looking forward) OR FLA (forward looking aft).

[liebensd]

Gyroscopic effect is now solved with pitch control.

But when you solve the gyroscopic effect with the pitch control you will create more drag = lower effencie and this will create a higher fuel cost.


Greetz,

Dave