I once built a pusher aircraft. Among the designers and builders, no one
seemed to care whether the air was being pulled or pushed. The aircraft did
not know the difference. About the only concern was the center of gravity and
what the aircraft would do in a spin, since aft c/g and flat spins are not
conducive to long term good health.
Some early aircraft designers especially liked pusher aircraft because there
was less chance of shooting your propeller off during battle (before they
synchronized the guns with the props). The aircraft designers figured out that
obstructions in front or back of the propeller made little difference in the
performance of the aircraft.
I have had a few wind generators at my house and always read that obstructions
either in front of or in back of the wind generator decrease performance.
Although I have not done any tests of a muffin fan either pushing or sucking
and do not claim to be an expert on the subject of moving hot air (contrary to
my wife's thoughts), my experience tells me that either one should work well if
the other design factors are followed.
I did have a friend, though, who purchased a pellet stove that used a sucking
blower. The bearings went out in a year because they overheated. He called
for a replacement blower and was told the company had modified the design
because of that problem. The new design still used a sucker, though, and it
has worked for a few years.
73, Colin K7FM.
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