Yes, my bad. Torque due to propeller drag was not considered, good point. All propeller drag torque will be transferred directly through the engine to the airframe. I got hung up on inertial (dynamic) torque.
Helicopters need a tail rotor to balance out the rotor's airfoil drag torque. Changing a helicopter rotor’s speed also causes torque. However, the rotor airfoil drag causes all the torque at a constant rotor speed.
Newton’s laws certainly apply in both cases.
The torque output by an engine is equal to the amount of load, provided the load torque does not exceed the engine torque output limit. In other words, an engine will only put out the amount of torque needed to balance the torque budget. If there is insufficient engine torque to do that, I don't believe the engine will be able to speed up quickly so that dynamic torque can occur.
My understanding of the constant speed variable prop pitch mechanism is that the angle of attack of the propeller, and its corresponding thrust and drag, change based on the available torque. At takeoff, a maximum torque provides a coresponding maximum thrust, angle of attack, and prop drag. The engine torque output is equal or greater than the torque required to rotate the prop at its constant speed. A reduction in throttle position keeps the prop speed constant but reduces the angle of attack, thrust, and prop drag. The more torque available, the greater the angle of attack for more thrust.
From what I have read, most, if not all WW2 fighters had more torque than required at takeoff. This allowed rapid engine speed changes with resulting ground loops and torque induced rolls at low airspeeds. I originally thought this was probably due to inertial dynamic torque. But, a rapid propeller pitch change when the throttle is quickly moved at low airspeed might produce a more severe torque, due to a rapid change in propeller drag torque.
Regards,
Malta