Warbird Information Exchange

Okay, WIX braintrust... I need your help.

I bought a wooden aircraft propeller the other day. It's 44 inches from tip to tip and uses six mounting bolts. It has "U.S. Propellers" ink-stamped on one blade, and "22008" and a serial number ink-stamped on the other blade. My basic internet search turned up few references. The only historical information I found was that it was used on "WW2 target drones". I'd love to know more! Could it have been used on something like a PQ-14? I'd also like to know what engine was behind it. It appears to have been used because there are spline marks visible inside the center hole in the hub.

Even if it's nothing special, I'll still be happy. It looks really nice, I bought it cheap, and Miss Cindy gave me permission to hang it on the wall in the dining room above the sliding glass doors that lead to the sunroom.

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

I think it's off a Radioplane/Northrop drone.
A prop for a Culver would be larger, considering their O -200 and 300 engines....more Cub-sized.

Here's a prop off of one on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1960-Wo ... 2430305486

Also, Pilots supply houses sell similar smaller props as decorative items for guys who don't have the room or can't afford a full-size prop.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

What sets this apart, for "those in the know", is the carefully laminated resorcinol <sp?> glue construction of the blank. Definitely an airworthy prop at one time, and not a manufactured decoration bought from a catalog!

Cool grab Dean!!

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Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway

Please note I didn't say it WAS a decorative item, just that small props are made for that market.

I did say I thought it was an airworthy prop off a drone.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

When I was at VFM yesterday, I noticed that we have a nearly identical prop on display. It has no ink stamps or other markings on it, and the wood's a little darker in color, but otherwise it's probably the same model. No info on it, either.

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

Oh, it was duly noted alright, just a matter of using clumsy verbiage on my part. My apologies. I know perfectly well JohnB knows his stuff.

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Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway

Dean - for what it is worth, it seems a number of target drones powered by the McCulloch O-100 engine used a 44 inch wooden prop with a six-bolt hub. Data from 50 Years of Target Drone Aircraft by Richard A. Botzum.

Randy