Can airbrakes be used as propellers?

[Grand Ship Builder]

While using them, my craft started spinning, so naturally, I wondered if I rotated it a bit, I could slow it down with the spinning.

 

I'd also like retractable propellers for drag reasons.

So, does it work? I've seen airbrakes used as wings for cruise missiles, which means they are aerodynamic, so why not propellers?

[suicidejunkie]

They don't have lift, so probably not?

What about using some control surfaces tuned so they fold flat to the airstream and act as tail fins when "deployed", but open up into a variable pitch prop in normal mode?

[NSEP]

Hmmm, there is only way to find out!

Sounds like a fun challenge!

[qzgy]

AFAIK, no. Airbrakes when used as "wings" are just there for aesthetics. Also, the produce horrendous amounts of drag. Not good for a prop.

[Bubbadevlin]

Everything in the game creates drag/lift.. so probably. Wing surfaces would be way better tho

 

[Aragosnat]

Controll surfaces would likely be a better choice. Just then you will have a  problem of getting them to spin. Even thee structual panels can provide lift and havea higher crash tolerance to boot.

[qzgy]

Testing It....

No. Use Elevons. MUCH Better.

[Grand Ship Builder]

K, so how do you get elevons to retract onto the propeller?

 

How do you even make a propeller?

 

How do you even make a ring station's ring spin by itself?

 

[NightshineRecorralis]

23 hours ago, Grand Ship Builder said:

K, so how do you get elevons to retract onto the propeller?

 

How do you even make a propeller?

 

How do you even make a ring station's ring spin by itself?

 

I think this is a thread worthy of @Azimech's help

Basically, the concept of self-contained rotating bodies is to create a joint of some sort around your vessel, which can freely rotate but is still kept contained by something structural around said joint.

Really bad explanation, I know.

Edited August 17, 2017 by NightshineRecorralis

[Azimech]

On 8/16/2017 at 6:15 PM, Grand Ship Builder said:

K, so how do you get elevons to retract onto the propeller?

 

How do you even make a propeller?

 

How do you even make a ring station's ring spin by itself?

 

I could use a thousand words but it really helps if you take a look at some examples. If you still have questions then, I'll be happy to answer them.

https://kerbalx.com/Azimech/77I--Turbo-Fanatic-XS-v10

https://kerbalx.com/Azimech/77I--Not-a-Detroit-Diesel-v10

 

[Vanamonde]

As I understand it, brakes create drag regardless of part orientation, and that's all. No lift. So it should not be possible to use them as a propeller. 

Also, moved to Gameplay Questions.