Propeller Tip Speed Chart
Match your RPM on the left to your prop diameter on top; the intersection shows your propeller tip speed in miles per hour. After proper muffler installation (and perhaps soft mounting your engine), prop speed is the next largest factor in reducing aircraft noise. You will want to prop your engine for tip speeds in the mid 300 mph range for quiet operation. A good "red line" would be anything over 400 mph. Note that the new, larger diameter props will present a larger challenge to keep to keep tip speed down; at 10,000 rpm your 17" prop has a tip speed over 500 mph! Bold numbers within the body of the chart represent a good target for tip speed - probably slower than you'll realistically achieve. As a side effect you will be operating more efficiently, since prop efficiency is lowest at high RPM.
Propeller Diameter in Inches
RPM 6000 6500 7000 7500 8000 8500 9000 9500 10000 10500 11000 11500 12000 12500 13000 13500 14000 14500 15000 15500 16000 11
196.3 212.7 229.0 245.4 261.7 278.1 294.5 310.8 327.2 343.5 359.9 376.3 392.6 409.0 425.3 441.7 458.0 474.4 490.8 507.1 523.5
12
214.2 232.0 249.8 267.7 285.5 303.4 321.2 339.1 356.9 374.8 392.6 410.5 428.3 446.1 464.0 481.8 499.7 517.5 535.4 553.2 571.1
13
232.0 251.3 270.7 290.0 309.3 328.7 348.0 367.3 386.7 406.0 425.3 444.7 464.0 483.3 502.7 522.0 541.3 560.7 580.0 599.3 618.7
14
249.8 270.7 291.5 312.3 333.1 353.9 374.8 395.6 416.4 437.2 458.0 478.9 499.7 520.5 541.3 562.1 583.0 603.8 624.6 645.4 666.2
15
267.7 290.0 312.3 334.6 356.9 379.2 401.5 423.8 446.1 468.5 490.8 513.1 535.4 557.7 580.0 602.3 624.6 646.9 669.2 691.5 713.8
16
285.5 309.3 333.1 356.9 380.7 404.5 428.3 452.1 475.9 499.7 523.5 547.3 571.1 594.9 618.7 642.5 666.2 690.0 713.8 737.6 761.4
17
303.4 328.7 353.9 379.2 404.5 429.8 455.1 480.4 505.6 530.9 556.2 581.5 606.8 632.0 657.3 682.6 707.9 733.2 758.5 783.7 809.0
18
321.2 348.0 374.8 401.5 428.3 455.1 481.8 508.6 535.4 562.1 588.9 615.7 642.5 669.2 696.0 722.8 749.5 776.3 803.1 829.8 856.6
This chart is a modified version of the chart that appeared in the Spring 2000 K-Factor, page 70.