Definition
The outermost end of a propeller or rotor blade, farthest from the hub. Because the tip travels through a much larger circle than the rest of the blade, it moves at the highest speed and is the part most affected by aerodynamic, centrifugal, and erosion forces.
Plain English
The far end of a propeller or rotor blade — the part that whips around fastest and is furthest from the centre.
Context Anchor
Seen in propeller and rotor inspections, especially when checking for damage, proper spacing, and safe operation.
Why Pilots Care
Blade tip speed directly affects aerodynamic efficiency, noise levels, and the risk of compressibility effects.
Intuition Check
Do not read “tip” as advice or a small loose point. Here it means the actual outer end of the blade farthest from the center.
Example Sentence 1
During preflight, the pilot ran a finger along each blade tip to check for nicks before signing off the aircraft.
Example Sentence 2
High blade tip speeds can produce shock waves and increase noise.