Industrial-grade multi-rotor drones performing inspection, mapping, and agricultural plant protection missions face a recurring set of engineering challenges: growing payloads such as LiDAR units and spraying systems, insufficient flight stability, low power system efficiency during high-intensity operations, and motor overheating. Gemfan Hobby Co., Ltd., operating under the brand GEMFAN, has spent 15 years focused specifically on UAV propulsion system components, with business coverage spanning more than 60 countries and regions, including China, the USA, the UAE, Europe, and Australia. The company's strategic positioning centers on optimizing aerodynamic structures and upgrading material technologies to deliver high-thrust, high-efficiency, and smooth-running propeller solutions for medium-to-large industrial-grade UAVs — precisely the platforms where energy conversion efficiency during cruise operations matters most.
Engineering Philosophy Behind High-Efficiency Propulsion
GEMFAN's team brings years of experience in propulsion system R&D, with concentrated expertise in precision dynamic balance control and material application technologies. This background informs the company's flagship offering: the Large Wheelbase 3-Blade UAV Propeller Series, engineered around a straightforward aerodynamic principle — large-diameter, three-blade propellers push a greater mass of air at lower RPM, which reduces energy consumption per unit of thrust and directly benefits long-duration hovering and cruising missions common to industrial UAV work.
Product Lineup for Large-Wheelbase Multi-Rotor Platforms
The series covers a graduated range of specifications, each matched to a specific wheelbase class and payload tier.
16X8X3 for 650mm-Class Platforms Positioned as a powerful propulsion component for 650mm-class large wheelbase UAV platforms, the 16X8X3 addresses insufficient power reserves and flight jitter that occur when medium-sized professional UAVs increase their effective payloads. Its three-blade aerodynamic structure provides more stable thrust than two-blade propellers at the same RPM, improving flight smoothness, while the 16-inch large-diameter design generates high thrust at low RPM, reducing energy consumption per unit of thrust and extending operation time. Key specifications include a propeller diameter of 406.4mm (16 inches), 8-inch pitch, single weight of 84.9g, Glass Fiber Nylon material, and a 6mm center hole with adapter rings. It is recommended for use with 4720 500KV level motors on quadcopters with a takeoff weight of 9-12kg.
17X8X3 for 750mm-Class Platforms Designed as reliable propulsion support for 750mm-class wheelbase flight platforms, the 17X8X3 meets requirements for continuous power output and system durability in aerial photography and material transportation tasks. It is specifically calibrated for 10-12kg takeoff weight to balance power output against system load, while optimized aerodynamic efficiency reduces motor RPM and heat, decreases ESC load, and improves the overall lifespan of the propulsion system. Specifications include a 431.8mm diameter, 8-inch pitch, single weight of 100.5g, and a 6mm center hole with adapter rings, recommended with 5330 level motors on wheelbase platforms around 780mm.
18X10X3 for 850mm Long-Wheelbase Missions Serving as a foundational component for 850mm long-wheelbase heavy-load UAV missions, the 18X10X3 targets long-endurance operations that require transporting heavy equipment such as multispectral cameras or high-precision mapping equipment. Its 18-inch large diameter combined with a 10-inch pitch provides sufficient takeoff thrust for heavy mission payloads, while the three-blade design improves wind resistance, ensuring stable flight in complex industrial environments. Specifications include a 457.2mm diameter, 10-inch pitch, single weight of 119.3g, and a 6mm center hole with adapter rings, recommended with 5330 level motors for quadcopters with an 11-13kg takeoff weight on 1300mm wheelbase platforms.
20-Inch Class Propeller for 1050mm Long-Wheelbase Missions This model serves as a basic component for heavy-lift UAV missions with a 1050mm long wheelbase, addressing scenarios in industrial inspection, emergency mapping, and long-endurance security surveillance where existing small-size or two-blade propellers struggle to deliver sufficient thrust, stability, and safety under heavy equipment loads in complex wind fields. The 20-inch large diameter combined with a 10-inch pitch provides greater static thrust at low RPM, improving endurance and operational efficiency. The three-blade configuration increases propeller disk solidity, enhancing airflow stability and gust resistance for stable platform attitude in strong winds, while high-precision molds and dynamic balancing processes reduce high-frequency vibrations, extending motor and flight controller lifespan. Specifications include a 508mm diameter, 10-inch pitch, single weight of 170g, and an 8mm center hole with a six-hole adapter ring, suggested with 6215-class motors for quadcopters with a 12-14kg takeoff weight on 1100mm wheelbase platforms.
22X10X3 for 1200mm Long-Wheelbase Missions Built as a basic component for heavy-lift UAV missions with a 1200mm long wheelbase, the 22X10X3 targets the power requirements of medium-to-large industrial UAVs, addressing endurance, stability, and power efficiency challenges for heavy-payload platforms. Its 22-inch large-diameter blade delivers higher thrust at lower RPM, reducing motor load and improving overall power system efficiency. The three-blade configuration balances thrust, response speed, and operational stability, offering smoother power output within a given size and reduced airframe vibration compared to two-blade propellers. Constructed from carbon-fiber-reinforced nylon composite, it combines light weight with high rigidity for fatigue resistance during long-term, high-frequency operations. High-precision dynamic balancing manufacturing reduces vibration and improves flight controller stability and image acquisition quality, supporting sustained high-load operation, long-duration outdoor flights, and stable hovering in strong winds. Specifications include a 558.8mm diameter, 10-inch pitch, single weight of 182g, and a center hole configuration of 4mm / 15-M3 / 20-M4, suggested with 7218-class motors for quadcopters with a 16kg takeoff weight on 1200mm wheelbase platforms.
Core Technical Advantages Across the Series
Across all five specifications, the series shares a consistent set of engineering characteristics. The three-blade aerodynamic structure offers a larger air interaction area per unit diameter compared to traditional two-blade propellers, providing more stable thrust and effectively reducing flight vibration. This connects directly to enhanced thrust efficiency: following the principle that large-diameter propellers push greater air mass at low RPM, energy consumption is reduced, which suits long-time hovering and cruising missions. A further benefit is a low noise advantage — lower operating RPM helps reduce noise pollution during flight, aligning with industrial application environment requirements. Finally, the specifications from 16 to 18 inches precisely match current mainstream 800-1200mm wheelbase industrial UAV platforms, ensuring broad mainstream platform compatibility.
Industry Applications and Value
The series is built to serve distinct industrial use cases. For industrial inspection, it improves flight stability for power line, oil pipeline, and infrastructure inspections. For aerial survey and mapping, it meets requirements for high-efficiency, long-endurance cruising, ensuring data collection precision. For agricultural plant protection, it provides stable thrust reserves to support heavy-load attachments such as spraying systems. For multi-rotor model aircraft applications more broadly, it meets customized needs for high-performance propulsion combinations.
Taken together, the GEMFAN Large Wheelbase 3-Blade UAV Propeller Series demonstrates how deliberate aerodynamic design — large diameter, three-blade layout, and low-RPM operation — translates into measurable energy conversion efficiency gains for multi-rotor cruise drones. From the 650mm-class 16X8X3 through the 1200mm-class 22X10X3, each specification is matched to defined motor classes, wheelbase ranges, and takeoff weights, giving operators a structured way to select propulsion components suited to their specific industrial mission profile.
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Gemfan Hobby Co.,Ltd.
