SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/pilot-spiraling-slipstream

The propeller's spiraling slipstream strikes which part of the airplane?

The left side of the vertical fin, yawing the nose left.

  1. The right wingtip
  2. The bottom of the horizontal tail
  3. The left side of the vertical fin ✔

Why: The propeller twists the air behind it into a corkscrew. That spiral hits the left side of the vertical fin and yaws the nose left. It is strongest at high power and low airspeed, like on takeoff.

Huh, didn't know that: Designers sometimes offset the rudder to counteract the spiraling slipstream.

The dad joke
Why did the corkscrew get invited to every party? It really knew how to twist.
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Sources

  1. FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Glossary https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/faa-h-8083-25c.pdf

Test yourself in the game

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