HQProp propellers for all-sized FPV drones

Since I started building FPV drones, HQProp has been in the top three of my personal choice. I tried to avoid using propellers from known brands despite being cheaper. This review will look closer at six of their props.

Propellers, also known as props, are considered consumables and are not given much importance, although they are directly responsible for the drone’s flight performance. A poorly balanced, heavy propeller can also significantly impact the overall flight time.

Performance and flight characteristics of propellers are defined beside size (diameter) by number of blades, pitch, shape, weight, and material they are made of. Three-blade propellers are most commonly used for FPV drones, which provide the best balance between efficiency, thrust, and grip. They are well-suited for both racing and freestyle flying. Five and six-blade propellers are used on micro drones and CineWhoops because they are generally quieter and provide the most lift and control in duct designs.

Usually, from the prop’s name, you can know the size, pitch, and number of blades at a glance. For example, 9X4X3 (also known as 9040×3) propellers are 9-inch-long 3-blade propellers with a pitch of 4 inches.

Propellers are mainly made of carbon fiber composite (CF), fiberglass-reinforced plastic, and polycarbonate (PC). Due to the manufacturing technology, CF props are twice as expensive as PC props and are mainly used on 7″ and larger builds. PC props are more flexible than CF and GF ones, which can produce more vibration. On the other hand, they have good stiffness and will bend rather than break if it hits something hard.

Review: HQProp propellers from 3.5 to 9″

Disclosure: I received these propellers for a product review collaboration with HQProp. Although the products were offered for free, all opinions in this article remain my own, and the sponsor did not influence me.

HQProp Co. Ltd, founded in 2012, is a comprehensive Propeller enterprise focused on R&D, design, and production for RC hobby. They claim to be one of China’s most professional propeller manufacturers and desire to become the highest quality RC propeller maker. The company has two product ranges: Multirotor (multi-blade 1.2-13″) and Airplane props (two-blades 6-12″). They sent me six models of their FPV propellers: Duct-75MMX6, HQProp D76MMX3, HQ 6X3.5X3, Juicy Prop J37 4.9×3.7, MacroQuad 9X4X3 and 9X5X3. I opted for two types of 9-inch propellers to test them with my latest build, the iFlight Chimera9 ECO.

When I was about to publish my HQProp review, I received the package again with the same six sets of propellers. Probably something messed up on the logistics side, and it was re-sent by mistake.

The 3.5″, 5″, and 6″ props are made of polycarbonate and sold in a set of four. Both 9-inch props (pitch of 4 and 5 inches) are sold individually (one in the zipped bag) and are made of glass fiber-reinforced nylon. All props had grey color and model numbers printed on them. The Juicy Prop J37 and HQ 6X3.5X3 are also available in white, green, orange, and blue colors.

Duct-75MMX6: CineWhoop propeller

As the name says, the Duct-75MMX6 is intended for CineWhoop-style FPV drones with duct blade protectors. The 75mm propellers have six blades and are made from polycarbonate. They weigh just 2.6 grams and are very responsive and super quiet.

HQProp D76MMX3: New level of smooth flying

The HQ Ducted 76mm three-blade propellers promise to bring you a new level of smooth flying. These props are made of thin, durable PC material and weigh just 2 grams. The D76MMX3 are perfect for CineWhoop’s and Toothpick style 3″ FPV drones.

HQ Juicy Prop J37: Perfectly balanced propellers for the juiciest flight experience!

The HQProp Juicy 37 three-blade propellers have a diameter of 4.9″ and are intended for 5″ racing and freestyling FPV drones. They are available in five color options to match your drone’s design.

HQ 6X3.5X3: Light and durable 6inch propellers for smooth flying

HQProp’s 6×3.5×3 propeller is made of light yet durable polycarbonate. The mild pitch makes this prop an excellent choice for battery-conscious and smooth-flying. I installed these props on my FlyFishRC Volador VD6 drone with Flash 2506 1750KV motors.

HQ MacroQuad 9X4X3 and 9X5X3

As mentioned, I plan to use these 9″ props on the Chimera9 ECO long-range drone. The props have a 5mm shaft diameter and a hub thickness of 10mm for a 4″ pitch and 9mm for a 5″ pitch. Both variants sit perfectly on the LN-2812 1150KV motors.

Pricing and availability

All these HQProp blades can be ordered directly from the manufacturer’s online store or platforms like Amazon and Aliexpress. The 9″ props are priced at $4.49/pcs, the 6X3.5X3/set at $3.59/set, the Juicy Prop J37 at $3.49/set, and the D76MMX3 and Duct-75MMX6 at $2.79/set.

Propellers are designed to spin in either a clockwise (CW) or counter-clockwise (CCW) direction. On an FPV drone, two motors rotate CW, and the other two spin CCW, so when props are sold by one piece, you need to choose two CW and two CCW to make a set.

HQProp propellers: Durability

I have been using HQProp propellers for over five years and have never had any quality issues. Polycarbonate props take the crashes well; they tend to bend instead of break. The flexibility of the blades also protects the motor’s shaft from bending during the collision.

Yesterday, I tested some new PID tunes on my Chimera 9, which proved a huge mistake. After 10 seconds in the air, I crash it on the roof. The 6S LIPO was set on fire, and two motors jammed. Three propellers also broke -the blades were ripped off from the hub. Considering that three roof tiles were halted after the impact, I’m surprised that not all four propellers got damaged.