ASCALON Ground Tests with ELIAS: A Customer’s Feedback

ELIAS is E-Props’ own onboard data-acquisition system, designed and built entirely in-house. Originally developed to measure propeller/engine vibration and blade strain, it now covers a complete flight-performance measurement chain: thrust, torque, temperatures, static and dynamic pressures, engine RPM, angle of attack and sideslip, vibratory loads and blade-root strain. A streamlined version of ELIAS is supplied with every ASCALON propeller: integrated into a spacer between the engine flange and the propeller hub, it lets owners run their own personalized vibration survey on the ground, in just a few minutes.

This month, ELIAS was used for the first time on an ASCALON installation — and it was a clear success. The measurement files were sent back by email immediately after the ground tests, and the whole process ran smoothly from first contact to data delivery 😊

Here is the direct feedback we received from Clemens, who ran these ground tests on his own aircraft — Aerobatic Pitts S1C with Lycoming O320 A2A (FAA Experimental) fitted with an ASCALON propeller:

“As discussed here my thoughts about the Ascalon ground tests:

Positive:

• Communication and support was great.
• Shipment of parts and preparation was very good.
• All parts were easy to handle.
• Installation was easy and intuitive.
• Quality of material and manufacturing is very nice.

Potential for improvement:

• “Elias Software” is nice and easy to use, but finding the right file is not obvious.
• For me, the most complex task was the adjustment of the blade angle. If you move the goniometer just a millimeter on the plane’s Y axis (right or left), the measurement of the angle differs a lot. Since the blade angle sometimes changes a little during the tightening of the bolts, a tolerance for the blade angle (e.g. 30.5° +/- 0.1°) would be helpful.
• Maybe some pictures and a detailed description of the angle adjustment process in the manual would be helpful.

Thanks again for the great support and your help. I am looking forward to the first flight with the Ascalon.”

— Clemens

Feedback like this is exactly what helps us improve. We are already looking at Clemens’ two suggestions: clearer file naming inside the ELIAS software, and a more detailed, illustrated step-by-step for blade-angle adjustment in the next revision of the ELIAS manual.

Want to know more about ELIAS?

• Full description of the ELIAS system: aircraft.e-props.fr/design.php#elias
• Quick-start notice (installation and ground vibration survey): download the PDF
• Complete ELIAS user manual: download the PDF
• More about the ASCALON range: aircraft.e-props.fr/ASCALON.php