Propeller pitch and RPM are the same control. Lower rpms means more pitch and vice versa.
That statement might be an oversimplification, but isnt wrong.
While in climb, cruise or while descending, you normally set RPM with the Prop pitch control, and use the throttle to control manifold pressure, the percent of power you want the engine to deliver indicated by inches of mercury of pressure in the intake system.
After takeoff, you will throttle the engine back to climb power normally followed by a reduction in RPM by adjusting the Prop pitch. When reaching desired altitude, you reduce power to cruise manifold pressure and reduce RPM to your desired cruise RPM with the prop control again.
During takeoff and normally on short final, the pilot will have advanced the prop to maximum RPM witch translate to the flatest blade pitch allowable.
When you feather a prop, you are moving the prop blades 90 degrees to the relative wind, which provides both the least amount of drag and stops the prop, eliminating the drag of forcing the engine to turn.
To feather a prop, normally you have to manually pull the prop control through the low RPM range into the marked "feather" position. Some aircraft have automatically feathering props.
Single engine aircraft of the 40s did not have feathering props. Feathering props are found on multi-enging aircraft.
dago
