Need help ID'ing a wooden propeller

[K5DH]

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.

[JohnB]

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.

Last edited by JohnB on Sat Jul 09, 2016 9:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Pogo]

...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.

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!!

[JohnB]

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.

[K5DH]

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.

[Pogo]

Please note...

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.

[Randy Wilson]

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