Can Anyone Here Provide Any Data On The Gannet's Propellors?

Gannet props

The data I submitted (before Newark) was taken from the Gannet AEW3 manual – AP101B-2803-1A (formerly AP.4487C).
Information/data taken from books/articles is only as good as the author dictates. Like computers – rubbish in – rubbish out! Some authors do not check facts, taking what has been quoted before as gospel, when wrong info then becomes acceptable facts and the myth begins, which is very difficult to get changed and accepted. Bye

Also thanks from me HFL, lots of information there.
Ian

Ok ok, I’m wrong!:o Seems like a book or two are also:p

Thanks for the AP data HFL

AP1538U, VOL 1

AEW Props
Type Front RF.174/4-30-5/2
Rear RB.174/4-30-7/2
Classification Co-axial, hydraulically operated, fixed cylinder, variable pitch,
feathering.
Rotation Front LH
Rear RH
Weight Front prop 395lb
Rear prop 413lb
Diameter both props 12ft 6in
Pitch range front prop 80 degrees
rear prop 79 degrees

let me know if anything else needed

I have built my X-Plane model based on scale drawings – unfortunately the prop was not presented on the drawings. However, when I started going over 13 feet diameter I found I had to be careful not to put too much power on for takeoff otherwise there was rather a lot of crunching noises and black smoke… The runway did not look too good neither!
Ian

😮 Don’t ask them to go and measure them again – you’ll get me lynched!

It’s worth remembering that the standard height quoted for the Gannet AEW.3 is 16′ 10″ (5.13m) – so at 16′ there wouldn’t be much clearance. :confused:

I am genuinely surprised (indeed embarresed!) by the Newark findings, the original 11′-12′ props on the prototype were found to be too small and they were increased, so for the AEW.3 to be similar does seem odd.

edit, Just checked with the ‘Gannet from the cockpit’ book and that goes with what I said earlier, ie 14′ ASW and 16′ for the AEW, so wonder where these figures come from?
I must admit 16 foot is big, each blade would be be almost 8′ long.

I’m preparing to look silly here, because I have to post this from my awful memory rather than tech notes at the moment, but 12.6 seems to small for the AEW.
I seem to remember 12′-13′ prototypes, 14′ ASW series, and 16′ AEWs.
The AEWs required bigger props due to the considerably higher pwerplant output and the larger bulk that it was moving around.

You know you’ve got me thinking now James. I always thought that at 13′ the Wyvern S.4 had a larger diameter prop than any Gannet.. and it certainly looks bigger… so after all these years am i wrong.? :confused::o

Yep, I was the recipient of the information for the AEW3 – the prop blade measured in at 75 inches from centre of spinner to tip making it a total diameter of 12 ft 6 inches. (Information greatfully received from Newark museum).
Ian

I believe that some measurements have recently been taken from XP226 and emailed through to one of the people requesting this information. 🙂

Sadly I don’t have a copy of the data / drawings that were made.

I’m preparing to look silly here, because I have to post this from my awful memory rather than tech notes at the moment, but 12.6 seems to small for the AEW.
I seem to remember 12′-13′ prototypes, 14′ ASW series, and 16′ AEWs.
The AEWs required bigger props due to the considerably higher pwerplant output and the larger bulk that it was moving around.

Gannet props

The Gannet AEW3 props were –
Front (No.1) Rotol RF174/4-30-5/2 Spinner Rotol 4CMF.6
Rear (No.2) Rotol RB174/4-30-7/2 Spinner Rotol 4CMB.6
Both 12ft 6in diameter

Thanks for all the replies folks, much appreciated. I live a bit far north for these but next time I am heading south I will try to route near one of those locations.

If your’e going to be pedantic they are co-axial, counter-rotating, ie two drive shafts shaing a common axis line and turning in opposite directions.
If I had remembered this thread I could have measured both Gannet prop types on Thursday.

To be precise they are counter-rotating,not contra-rotating ;two separate shafts each driven by a separate engine..

You could also try here … one of the aircraft openers on the Shackleton writes flight sim flight control software! 🙂

rear ones are shorter by about an inch, have you tried Elvington, they have one in the hangar

Anyone came across this information as yet?
I really only need the length of the prop blade at the moment.
Ian

…or can the type reference be ‘decoded’ i.e. does the number mean anything? (/4 = four blade)
Ian

Did anyone ever get this information, I am searching for it myself at the moment as I am in the process of creating a flight simulator model of the AEW3 and want to get as real as possible.
Ian