vintage prop question

[mcemond]

Hi
Feel like a little bit of a leach jumping right in here like this but my question doesn't seem to break the forum rules i read earlier. Anyway, my grandfather flew in wwii with the RAF and got me started in a life long facination with that era of aviation. Even got a pilots license myself. I've always wanted a physical/ historical connection to him and that era of heroes and decided a while back that I would get a real vintage combat propeller from that era. Well, I'm still searching for that propeller but what I did want to ask was are there any more really out there or are they all post war propellers at this point? And how do you verify the age of a wwii era propeller?
Thanks!
Mike

 

[evangilder]

It depends. There are some aluminum one that are probably older that are not used anymore floating around. I know the museum in Camarillo probably has at least 3-5 bent prop blades from various places. There is also and engine with the prop still on it that was recovered from the ocean, covered in barnacles.

I cannot say about wooden ones. I have seen beat up wooden props in various shops, but have no way of telling their age. The certainly look old and beat up, but a good prop strike can cause it to get beat up.

Are you searching for an entire prop, or a prop blade?

 

[mcemond]

Hi Thanks for your reply. I am actually looking for complete aluminum props making the search all the more challenging. We'll see though.

 

[evangilder]

Not only challenging, but expensive and heavy, especially when you factor in the hub and multiple blades. If you are looking at something like a Corsair, the prop arc on that airplane with the three-bladed prop was 13 feet. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I am pretty sure the four-bladed prop was even bigger.

Depending on the area you live in, you could probably contact a local air museum and see if the have some that they have that are no longer usable. If not, they may know where to find one.

 

[mcemond]

Yeah. I think part of the fascination I have with these propellers is their amazing size. I remember the first time I saw a corsair in person and up close, the size of the prop absolutely amazed me. You just don't get that from looking at the pictures.