What Propeller was used on the Hawker Nimrod

[N99JH]

I would like to know who was the manufacturer of the propellers used on aircraft like the hawker Fury, Hind, Nimrod etc. Is there anywhere I can find a picture of the manufacturer logo/decal?
I am talking abot a propeller of roughly 10'6" diameter with a hub that tapers from the back to the front of the propeller.
Thanks
Joshua

[Bob Gardner]

The prop in the photograph was made by the Airscrew Company of Great Britain. It was designed by Dr HC Watts.

With regards,

Bob

[N99JH]

The Airscrew Company

Bob
Thank you for the quick reply. Do you know if the propeller used on the Martin Baker MB.2 was similar except for the Left Hand (reverse rotation)?
Do you know where I can find more information on this company and perhaps their logo?
Best Regards
Joshua

[N99JH]

The Airscrew Company Decal

Does anyone know if the Watts Propellers carried a decal from The Airscrew Company? Any pictures?
Thanks
Joshua

[Bob Gardner]

It's very unlikely that the Airscrew Co would have put a decal on a military prop. I have never seen it done. They did put decals on civilian aircraft props.

With regards,

Bob

[N99JH]

Watt's Propeller Designation

In my search to identify the Watts propeller used on the Martin-Baker M.B.2 I found that the Hawker Hector used the same Napier Dagger III engine as the M.B.2 and I am pretty sure that the propeller was identical at 10' 6" diameter.
Does anyone have the specs for that Watts propeller by any chance? Would it be safe to assume that the prop of the M.B.2 was not painted being used on a prototype?
Thanks for any help in resolving this matter
Joshua

[dairwin]

In my search to identify the Watts propeller used on the Martin-Baker M.B.2 I found that the Hawker Hector used the same Napier Dagger III engine as the M.B.2 and I am pretty sure that the propeller was identical at 10' 6" diameter.
Does anyone have the specs for that Watts propeller by any chance? Would it be safe to assume that the prop of the M.B.2 was not painted being used on a prototype?
Thanks for any help in resolving this matter
Joshua

Joshua - it has ben some years since your original posting, but the Hawker Hind biplane that is now flying in the UK, had a replica Watts propeller made by Clark Industries in Canada. Perhaps they can advise further on the specifications.

DAI

[n99jh]

Joshua - it has ben some years since your original posting, but the Hawker Hind biplane that is now flying in the UK, had a replica Watts propeller made by Clark Industries in Canada. Perhaps they can advise further on the specifications.

DAI

I am back at it

Would really appreciate any information regarding the pitch of this propeller.

Thanks

Joshua

[dairwin]

re: Hind prop

I am back at it

Would really appreciate any information regarding the pitch of this propeller.

Thanks

Joshua

Hi Joshua,

This is a drawn out conversation! In the intervening 6 years, I acquired a Z38 Watts propeller for a Hurricane Mk1, had it scanned, and the dataset is ready to fabricate a new one when I need it.

However regarding the Hind; this is a photo enlargement of a Hind prop I happened to have. Difficult to read, but I think the diameter and pitch are indicated in meters (oddly?). D330 (3.3m) P3506 (3.506m).

Thats the best I can do.

Regards,

DAI

[n99jh]

Hi Dairwin

Thank you so very much for your help. The 330 cm diameter converts well to an approximately 10' 6" diameter propeller, however, I doubt that the other number is the pitch, that would mean 11' pitch !?

[dairwin]

Hi Dairwin

Thank you so very much for your help. The 330 cm diameter converts well to an approximately 10' 6" diameter propeller, however, I doubt that the other number is the pitch, that would mean 11' pitch !?

The Hurricane Watts propeller has a 11.25' diameter and pitch of 21.3' (see photo). So don't dismiss the pitch; these are very pitchy propellers optimised for high speed only.

DAI

[n99jh]

The Hurricane Watts propeller has a 11.25' diameter and pitch of 21.3' (see photo). So don't dismiss the pitch; these are very pitchy propellers optimised for high speed only.

DAI

I have done some more research and found that the Hawker Hector which used the same Napier Dagger engine as used on the MB.2 had a Watts Z.3040 propeller, 10.9' dia. and 12.15' pitch. This may very well be the same propeller as the one loaned to Sir James Martin.
You are correct about the pitch!

[dairwin]

I have done some more research and found that the Hawker Hector which used the same Napier Dagger engine as used on the MB.2 had a Watts Z.3040 propeller, 10.9' dia. and 12.15' pitch. This may very well be the same propeller as the one loaned to Sir James Martin.
You are correct about the pitch!

For the Z.38 Hurricane propeller, the Rolls-Merlin II could only develop approx 2,100rpm at take off. The equivalent Watts used on the early Spitfire Mk1 had a take off length of 450 years, but when changed to the two-position deHavilland propeller the take off run reduced to 230 yards as that propeller was optimised with fine pitch.

The photo is my Merlin II with a Z.38 propeller. The pitch is evident!

DAI

[dairwin]

I am back at it

Would really appreciate any information regarding the pitch of this propeller.

Thanks

Joshua

Joshua,

Came across another photo of a Watts for a Kestrel V.

DAI

[n99jh]

Joshua,

Came across another photo of a Watts for a Kestrel V.

DAI

Thank you very much, your help is much appreciated.