HP42 Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Mooching about on Airliners.net and found this picture of a poorly Spitfire. I'm sure I saw this one at Duxford a few times last year. Not a nice sight to see. What's the prop made from? I would have expected the classic bending backwards if it was made from aluminium. Is this some form of composite? http://www.airliners.net/photo/Supermarine...fire/1352635/M/ Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave T Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 It's made from wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 If the gear was inadvertently raised while the aircraft was stationary or moving slowly then that would explain why there is no bending. To answer your question about the blades, some types of prop had wooden blades. I can hear all the professional jocks (and a few amateurs) saying to themselves 'there but for the grace of God go I'! peebeep (tri gear fixed undercarriage rocks) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HP42 Posted May 6, 2008 Author Share Posted May 6, 2008 It's made from wood. It certainly looks that way but I'm very surprised they're wooden, I thought they were alloy......... ....yer live and learn.... Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHREAK Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 If the gear was inadvertently raised while the aircraft was stationary or moving slowly then that would explain why there is no bending. To answer your question about the blades, some types of prop had wooden blades.I can hear all the professional jocks (and a few amateurs) saying to themselves 'there but for the grace of God go I'! peebeep (tri gear fixed undercarriage rocks) You get the bad pun of the day award hands down! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Ooh er! peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHREAK Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Ooh er! peebeep LOL.....made me groan....poor gal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickers McFunbus Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 (edited) It certainly looks that way but I'm very surprised they're wooden, I thought they were alloy......... I think most Spits (actually, I'll add a caveat - most Merlin powered Spits) fly with wooden blades now. The only one I know which certainly has metal blades is the Mk1 AR213 at Booker, which has the metal DH prop formerly on AR501 at Old Warden. As for the incident, glad it happened at taxy speed. Edited May 6, 2008 by Vickers McFunbus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B (Sc) Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 (edited) Ouch. "There are those who have and those who will" - you are so right peebeep, "There but for..." Phil - I think a lot of Spitfire props were/are (?) composite - wood construction impregnated with a phenolic resin IIRC. I can't remember the name they gave that. Not sure if that is what is used now, but why change if it works. Nice low revs etc and with the wooden prop they should get away without shock load damage to the engine, though I exepct a check still will have had to be done. Expensive. I see someone at Perth tipped up a Gypsy Moth on its nose last weekend, forced landing in an oilseed rape field after engine problems. No injuries, just aircraft damage. Shame to have to damage a nice aircraft, as with the Spit, but again got away reasonably lightly. Edited May 7, 2008 by John B (Sc) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 (edited) Ouch."There are those who have and those who will" - you are so right peebeep, "There but for..." Phil - I think a lot of Spitfire props were/are (?) composite - wood construction impregnated with a phenolic resin IIRC. I can't remember the name they gave that. Not sure if that is what is used now, but why change if it works. Nice low revs etc and with the wooden prop they should get away without shock load damage to the engine, though I exepct a check still will have had to be done. Expensive. I see someone at Perth tipped up a Gypsy Moth on its nose last weekend, forced landing in an oilseed rape field after engine problems. No injuries, just aircraft damage. Shame to have to damage a nice aircraft, as with the Spit, but again got away reasonably lightly. The "improved wood compressed resin impregnated wooden props use the Jablo process IIRC. John John Edited May 7, 2008 by John Aero Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Tango Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 What a shame and a two seater to boot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephLalor Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 (edited) What a shame and a two seater to boot. It looks like the one that was restored in Irish Air Corps finish (161?) and was repainted as a K.Lu. aircraft. I probably saw it performing at the seafront of Bray, Co. Wicklow, a couple of years back. Joseph Edited May 7, 2008 by JosephLalor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickers McFunbus Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 It looks like the one that was restored in Irish Air Corps finish (161?) and was repainted as a K.Lu. aircraft. I probably saw it performing at the seafront of Bray, Co. Wicklow, a couple of years back. 'Tis indeed. Formerly PV202, which was involved in a fatal accident in 2000 at Goodwood. You will all be pleased to hear that he aircraft returned to Duxford this afternoon - by air, under its own power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Bradshaw Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Quite right John, the prop material is Jablo - I have a file handle made from this stuff. It is basically very thin vaneers of wood with resin in between them, which is set under high tempreture and pressure. This Spit should be flying again very soon with a new prop. Derek The "improved wood compressed resin impregnated wooden props use the Jablo process IIRC.John John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickers McFunbus Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 This Spit should be flying again very soon with a new prop. See above, it already has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Pulfrew Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 IIRC even some of the Griffon engined Spits had wooden props. There is part of a late mark (22/24?) blade in the Fenton Flyer pub at Church Fenton which is definitely wood. Hope the Merlin in that photo wasn't stressed; Merlin rebuilds are not cheap!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HP42 Posted May 10, 2008 Author Share Posted May 10, 2008 You will all be pleased to hear that he aircraft returned to Duxford this afternoon - by air, under its own power. Hurrah!! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now