Picked up this unusual item, but on all the Gannet photos i have they show a different type of Blade check being used.
Anyone seen this type actually used or was it short lived etc.? Its marked;
Gannet Blade Windmill Check
6/STORES/44227/CB22A
27D/296S
1956
By: Wyvernfan - 10th July 2009 at 08:36
Yes i think i read it in the book ‘Gannet From The Cockpit’ no7. The ‘rope starter’ was an unofficial practice that was stopped when on one occasion things did’nt quite go according to plan. Incidentally for anyone with an interest in the aircraft i can highly recommend buying a copy of the book.
By: pagen01 - 10th July 2009 at 08:13
I would agree with CKing, the rope was probably the local ‘ship mod’, good way of keeping up those roping and knot skills aswel:)
Have you ever seen the pic of the Gannet where ratings try starting it with a length of rope round one of the props? For some reason they just couldn’t run fast enough to achieve the sustaining start up RPMs of the Mamba!
By: Cking - 9th July 2009 at 20:19
What i have seen appears to be some sort of rope affair, in a ‘figure of 8’ style about half way up the blade. Very simple and nothing like what i have!
Ah! The “proper” one might have been a pain to fit so the jolly jack tars might have just used a bit of rope.
There is an official “Gag” to stop the RB211’s windmilling. We use a chock!:D
(Making a suitable entry in the tech log of course)
Rgds Cking
By: Wyvernfan - 9th July 2009 at 16:27
I think there were also prop tip ‘gloves’ to protect them and crews, are these what you are reffering to?
What i have seen appears to be some sort of rope affair, in a ‘figure of 8’ style about half way up the blade. Very simple and nothing like what i have!
By: pagen01 - 9th July 2009 at 16:16
I think there were also prop tip ‘gloves’ to protect them and crews, are these what you are reffering to?
By: Wyvernfan - 9th July 2009 at 14:26
I am up to date with that info thanks.. but in all the Gannet pics that i have and have seen none of them show this type of check being used. As Pagen says they are for the early Mk’s, as also suggested by the 1956 date, but this type of check appears to have had a short service life.!
By: Cking - 9th July 2009 at 14:05
You slide them onto the blades and it stops them being blown around by the wind (“Windmilling”)
The mamba is a free turbine engine and all free turbine engines will windmill in a strong breeze. On the deck of a carrier there will always be a breeze.
Rgds Cking
By: pagen01 - 9th July 2009 at 08:21
Probably not the info you need, but the AEW props are different to the earlier ASW/T types, which the above item is from.
By: Wyvernfan - 8th July 2009 at 11:55
A pic might help :rolleyes:
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July 8, 2009 at 11:53 am