Hello all, am a relatively new member, but nonetheless a passionate one…!
I need some help identifying a prop blade that I have become the recent adopted parent of. It looks like a Dowty-Rotol blade to me – not in the greatest condition having come from a ditch at Sutton Bridge airfield, apparently (found alone, not from a wreck). It is wooden with a plasticated covering, black with yellow tip, no sheath on leading edge. The only identifying marks left on the blade are a yellow disc located towards blade root with a “DR” at the top and a larger “G” underneath this. There are no markings left on the wooden root underside unfortunately.
From my own research, this would tell me that it may be of spruce construction with a “Rayoid” covering…. or not?!
Would love help from anyone out there in identifying with more confidence what this blade was and what it might have been fitted to, and when. All help gratefully received from this newbie to your excellent forum.
By: John Aeroclub - 19th March 2008 at 14:31
A lot of interesting stuff visited Sutton Bridge over the years. I have a very sad picture of a totalled Gamecock at SB in “My box of delights”. As I said my guess is a Hurricane blade.
John
By: doctorbigbum - 19th March 2008 at 11:26
Thanks John. A Hurricane blade was my gut instinct – interesting to hear someone else with more knowledge also coming to this conclusion. This would also fit with its origins – 6 OTU and 56 OTU squadrons were based at Sutton Bridge from Mar 1940 through Mar 1942 and used the Hurricane Mk1 (as well as Lysanders, Typhoons and Spitfires). Active squadrons 254, 264 and 266 were also based there, flying a mixture of Blenheims, Beaufighters, Mosquitos, Battles and Spitfires.
By: John Aeroclub - 19th March 2008 at 09:30
It looks to be “Merlin” rotation and Rotol type and would appear to have a final diameter in the range 10′ 3″ to 11′ ish and the profile looks good for something like a Hurricane / Halifax type of blade. If must be more familiar to some of our other posters.
John
Edit, in fact looking at more photos I think you have a Hurricane blade.
By: doctorbigbum - 18th March 2008 at 22:30
The total length of the blade including metal root is approx 55″ and the chord at the widest point is approx 10″. The metal root is approx 5.5″ diam and 7″ long.
By: doctorbigbum - 18th March 2008 at 22:21
Blimey, that was a quick reply! Have hopefully attached two pics. You can see at some point, someone painted the blade green – part of a fence??
By: John Aeroclub - 18th March 2008 at 22:13
Can you post a photo?
And any dimensions, eg length and chord.
John
By: BlueRobin - 18th March 2008 at 22:07
Can you post a photo?
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March 18, 2008 at 10:04 pm