A
Anonymous
Guest
For those that want to help. Here's what I have. My Grandfather was in the Navy during WWI. While in the service he was part of the first transatlantic flight and was stationed on one of the ships that I think was in Plymouth England when the flight was completed. This prop/fan has been passed down to me and I guess it's time to validate it or turn it into scrap. I sent an e-mail to the Buehler Library in Pensacola Florida and they responded that to their knowledge only single bladed fans were used and they had no record of a 4 bladed used. Crap! After receiving this information I sent an e-mail and the photos to the Curator at the Curtiss Museum in New York. I was informed by him that this prop/fan would be like one that would have been used on a early electric fan and not on an aircraft. Crap again. I then spent about three hours looking at early fans from 1906 to around 1940. After viewing about 300 fans I noticed that ALL of them had a "stamped" center hub that the blades were attached, none had a machined hub with screw in blades. I then sent another e-mail to the Buehler and requested they take a second look as my grandpa was a very serious all the time type person and I certainly didn't think he was inaccurate about his story. To my surprise I received a second e-mail from the volunteer researcher at Buehler library. He stated that they were able to find a note that was made in a report or log by Richardson, it reads as follows.......
Mike: I have located a part of a report by Holden Richardson (Pilot of the
NC-3 that did not make the complete transplant journey). He was also a
"Naval Constructor" who had a significant say in the basic engineering and
changes to the aircraft being developed for the Navy.
We may have a complete report by Richardson, but I cannot locate it as of
today. The interesting statement (on the located page 25) is item #6 - Gas
pumps as follows: "The relocated gas pumps functioned satisfactorily and
particularly the four-bladed windmills gave smoother action."
I believe this makes your point, although we have no engineering details of
such a change. Our two bladed (metal) wind fans were evidently replaced
based on observed problems at least for the three fuel pumps (a hold-over
from the original 3 engine NC design. The film clip you referenced did not
provide enough clarity for me to identify any wind driven blades in the pix.
Sorry. I also do not know if they also changed from 2 to 4 blades on the
wind driven generator. At least we both now know that a 4 blade fan was used
on at least NC-3 that was piloted by Richardson.
Finally some evidence that backs up my grandpa's story but here's where I stand now. I have looked all over the internet and I can't find a decent photo of NC4 or NC3 that shows this prop with clarity. I have been able to find a video or two that shows what appears to be the prop on NC3. It's at the 2:45 time mark and can be seen as the small boat passes behind the aircraft. "IF" any you guys want to play history detective I can use the help. Here's the video and photos.
http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675 ... d-aircraft
Mike: I have located a part of a report by Holden Richardson (Pilot of the
NC-3 that did not make the complete transplant journey). He was also a
"Naval Constructor" who had a significant say in the basic engineering and
changes to the aircraft being developed for the Navy.
We may have a complete report by Richardson, but I cannot locate it as of
today. The interesting statement (on the located page 25) is item #6 - Gas
pumps as follows: "The relocated gas pumps functioned satisfactorily and
particularly the four-bladed windmills gave smoother action."
I believe this makes your point, although we have no engineering details of
such a change. Our two bladed (metal) wind fans were evidently replaced
based on observed problems at least for the three fuel pumps (a hold-over
from the original 3 engine NC design. The film clip you referenced did not
provide enough clarity for me to identify any wind driven blades in the pix.
Sorry. I also do not know if they also changed from 2 to 4 blades on the
wind driven generator. At least we both now know that a 4 blade fan was used
on at least NC-3 that was piloted by Richardson.
Finally some evidence that backs up my grandpa's story but here's where I stand now. I have looked all over the internet and I can't find a decent photo of NC4 or NC3 that shows this prop with clarity. I have been able to find a video or two that shows what appears to be the prop on NC3. It's at the 2:45 time mark and can be seen as the small boat passes behind the aircraft. "IF" any you guys want to play history detective I can use the help. Here's the video and photos.
http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675 ... d-aircraft
