Counter-rotating propellers are found on certain twin and multi-engine fixed-wing aircraft. The term “counter-rotating” comes from the fact that the propellers on one wing spin in the opposite direction of those on the other wing. Typically, on most twin or multi-engine propeller-driven aircraft, all propellers rotate in the same direction, often clockwise when viewed from the back of the plane. However, in a counter-rotating setup, the propellers on the right wing turn counter-clockwise, while those on the left wing rotate clockwise. This design provides a key advantage: it balances the torque effects of the propellers, which helps eliminate issues related to what is known as the Critical Engine. It’s important to note that counter-rotating is different from contra-rotating. Contra-rotating refers to two propellers on the same engine that rotate in opposite directions.
