Advancements In Propellers 1909-1942

"What's dad doing?" "Oh, he's listening to a long video about propellers." ???????...

- Greg's Airplanes = THE airplane history and technology guy! - Forgotten Weapons = THE small arms history and design guy - Chieftain's Hatch = THE tank guy - Drachnifinal = THE naval history and technology guy. There's many other really good people that cover these topics but those folks are the absolute master's in their fields for their technical knowledge, resource finding skills, presentation style, and ability to formulate the technical and historical information in a way that's easy to understand without being dumbed down. Kudos!!!

Greg, you consistently break down complex mechanical and engineering issue down to just the right level. Your explainations are spot on. Thanks for that.

Learned alot about something I know f*€k all about & I wasn't bored. That's why I watch Greg's airplane videos.

Heh heh, prop failures may be rare now, but one almost happened to me! It was in a Rans S3 at my flight school with a carbon fibre prop. It was the oldest plane at the school with various miner gremlins and rattles and no-one liked that thing. The last two registration letters were Quebec Whisky and we called it “Quebec Fix-Me"! I eventually heard it got totaled when one blade delaminated in flight, shortly after takeoff. They still had some thrust, so the instructor took over and made a 180 back to the runway. He very nearly pulled it off, and would have made it if there hadn't been a power line in the neighboring farm right at the edge of the field. (airfield owner had told me it was basically a spite wire. No comment) Instructor was okay, student got miner injuries (he went to a different school after that) but that airplane was a sculpture! I saw it a few days later and never have I seen a more bent airplane that wasn't in pieces. The punchline came weeks later when I was bored in the office and happened to pick up the logbook for old Quebec Fix-Me. I looked down to the very last entry, and there was my name! I missed that ride by a few minutes worth of engine time!

I am a Registered Nurse and low time pilot. (No engineering background). Greg is a like some of the great professors that I had. He presents the information in such a manner that I often see the answer coming and before he makes the point. making me feel as if I solved it myself. Great job.

I remember, as a child, in the mid-1950s being taken for a look-around in a local 'Old Curiosity Shop' in Watford. On the floor was a huge, four bladed wooden propellor with curved tips and transfers spelling 'Maurice Farman'. The price was £3.10/- (£3.50). That was probably my father's weekly wage at the time so it remained in the shop! I have never forgotten it and my child's eyes took in and retained all those details too.

I have no idea how I stumbled on this channel, but it taught me more about the importance of engineering and math what 11 years of Russian school and college! Greg has the talent to be a teacher! Best lectures ever!

Great stuff My dad flew F4s, F4Us, F6s and others in WWII His comments on the props, each had their own issues The electrics would short out now and then and go into high pitch. The hydraulics would some times lose a seal and you’d get a oil spray on the windshield. He crashed a F4 went the prop went into high pitch on takeoff. Funny the story’s you remember.

Thanks for the video. You finally made me look up the plant my Mom worked in. Frigidaire built propellers for multi-engine aircraft, but also built components for the Aeroproducts props.

Some very smart people back in the day figured all this engineering out, they were good.

I enjoy how Greg can make an esoteric topic such as prop pitch, and give us an exoteric explanation that makes it much more clear. Good job Greg, and looking forward to the next edition.

This is amazing. I had no idea that power was controlled by changing the pitch and throttle/ manifold. I thought the pitch was constant and only the throttle was used. I also didn't know why the p-47 had different nose cones. Now it all makes sense.

Thanks Greg. I have used Controllable pitch propellers on Type 42 destroyers (Ships) which have a lot in common, although they are fully reversible and we did not run them at constant speed. Thy hydraulic systems you showed are familiar and I thought you did a great job of explaining them. Thanks for sharing.

Sunday night: Watches Greg's video. Monday: Impresses friends with knowledge about planes.

Thank you once again for explaining something in a way that a non aviator, non pilot can understand. Now I get it. Love your work by the way.

In a previous life I repaired and/or modified high performance props for racing and recreational boats. To get the most out of props in any given application was a combination of math, theory, compromise and voodoo. I found this video fascinating. Thank you!

Greg- Thanks for this propeller series. It hits home for me personally as my father was "radio" on C-46 Curtis Commandos flying the "Hump" in late '44-'45. He had related this aircraft was sent to do its job way before it was perfected. The two most common problems being leaking hydraulics, and problematic Curtiss Electric props. It was my understanding if an engine was malfunctioning, many times the prop would not feather. Anyway, I am proof he made it through. Love your channel.

Greg, as someone who went to A&P school in the 70's, took many a class on Hamilton Standard props, and had the opportunity to work on them, I have to say that you've posted an excellent explanation of the principles involved. The only problem with hydraulic props is that they are so reliable that many in the industry take them for granted. Bravo again my friend! You boil complicated subjects down so that the uninitiated can understand these complex systems. I've referred my apprentice to your videos as you explain these things very well.

Just have to say, I sort of envy the man who first developed a mechanical governor like this (which I suspect might have been on a steam engine or even before that), and could observe his invention in action for the first time. Super elegant device in my eyes, simple and sooooo useful in every imaginable spinning machine!