Warbird Information Exchange

And some aiplanes have airscrews, right?????

Technically ships, boats and anything having rotating blades, centrally hubbed converting rotational power into thrust while immersed in fluid (air, water, etc) has a screw propeller. Although, I must admit I have never heard anyone in the Navy refer to a ships propeller as a prop. Then again I have never heard anyone in the Navy refer to a CH-53 as a Sea Stallion either. They usually call them "Sh*tters." So go figure lol

What can I do than just :lol::lol::lol:

Excellent!

Aircraft 'propellers' used to refer to the variety that propelled - i.e. pushed, on pusher types, and similar to most ships, rather than those with the whirly thing on the front which were 'airscrews'. However, 'airscrews' went out of use, and one story has it because someone ordered 'AIRCREW' and got 'AIRSCREW', or vice versa. You may, or may not believe as you wish. Either way, a propeller should propel, not pull, but we don't use language that precisely.

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

I'm not convinced but why start another pointless debate

I'm the self appointed Naval expert here
#1 Ships-screws
#2 A/C- propellors
#3Helos-who cares
#4Boats-refer to #3

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Don't touch my junk!!

deckies chip and paint

I'm not trying to convince anyone, just pulling out some of the etymological history of the words.

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Based on my good friend the Latin/Etymology professor and the University of Notre Dame propeller comes from the root word propel which which stems from the Latin word propellere "pro" [forward] "pellere" [to strike , knock, beat; to impel, propel, move, affect; to drive away, dislodge, banish] (University of Notre Dame http://catholic.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin ... .pl?propel)

Etymology.com also supports this but it does place emphasis on "push" but according to the professor that is an incomplete definition.

If this is accurate then propellere is not exclusive to push and could easily mean drive forward, knock forward, etc.

Current definitions:

Dictionary.com
propeller

–noun
1. a device having a revolving hub with radiating blades, for propelling an airplane, ship, etc.
2. a person or thing that propels.
3. the bladed rotor of a pump that drives the fluid axially.
4. a wind-driven, usually three-bladed, device that provides mechanical energy, as for driving an electric alternator in wind plants.

American Heritage Dictionary

propeller or propellor

n. A machine for propelling an aircraft or boat, consisting of a power-driven shaft with radiating blades that are placed so as to thrust air or water in a desired direction when spinning.

I rest my case.

This post looks like one of The Simpson's episode. It always starts one way, but ends completely different...

What case? All I was stating was that the original use of propeller in the aircraft sense was for the type that pushed, rather than pulled. Thanks to your friend from the uni, this use goes back to classical Latin (which I didn't know, ancient Roman aircraft being rare. Interesting, and thanks).

Be that as it may, they definition you've supplies of the Latin, includes definitions to drive or knock forwards, and derivatives, rather than to drag or pull forwards. An incomplete definition, perhaps, but there's no suggestion of any specific 'pull' or 'draw' definitions. I'd be delighted to watch you knock a block forwards with a hammer while hitting the front of it.

Secondly, current usage wasn't what I was talking about; current definitions define current use. Perhaps you'd like to dig about and see what you can find for the Great War era? (British and Allied aircraft of the period used aircrew on tractor aircraft, propellers on pusher types. There weren't many American aircraft around. Prior to W.W.I, there was a lot of variation in terms by the pioneers, and little need to standardise on terminology, which came in as the result of war.)

As I said, I don't mind if you believe me or not, this isn't my opinion, just a bit (not all) of some of the word's history. As a shock, it's clearly not the US definition, and probably won't be covered by online dictionaries, as they are poor on anything but current use. Try the OED.


Part of the charm of the forum, perhaps.

Them were fascinating pictures of the ship, too.

Regards,

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

But your own comment shows the difference, and there is one between a ship and a boat, boats may ride in or on a ship, but ships are there own master of the water.

I learned that from several old navy guys, the exception is if it goes underwater (and comes up again on its own power) ie a sub, they are called boats.

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A-7D, the Short Little Ugly "Flyer" and A-10A Warthog, weren't called an ATTACK plane for nothing. Remember for a little relief on the ground, call your local Air Force to "Go Ugly Early"!

The point is not what the dictionary says about the meaning of the term, but what the common applied name for a said object is when used by a service of our country or most any other.

Just like the question of what is a Fighter A/C versus one designed for other missions, like a dive bomber or conventional bomber.

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A-7D, the Short Little Ugly "Flyer" and A-10A Warthog, weren't called an ATTACK plane for nothing. Remember for a little relief on the ground, call your local Air Force to "Go Ugly Early"!

I believe either or both could be considered correct, BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL PRINCIPLES OF NAVAL ENGINEERING states "that the propelling device most commonly used for Naval Ships is the screw propeller" For 32 years I called them props. getting screwed always meant something else to me, but I do think either is correct......

Blue Jacket Manual
note propeller shaft, not screw shaft

And here I always heard boat crews call them "wheels"....