Here are two photographs. The first shows the size of L'Oiseau Blanc's unique two-bladed Alferium propeller. The second is a close-up of the PL8 version 2 propeller, powered by a 600 hp Hispano-Suiza 12LbR.
The two propellers weighed over than 120 Kgs and were probably virtually identical, except perhaps for their length.
Surprisingly, sources differ on this point. In the case of the Oiseau Blanc, the reported lengths vary from 3.80 to 3.95M.
As the Hispano is substantially more powerful, it's possible that the extended size of 3.95M applies only to the PL8 version 2.
Such a substantial mass of metal, less likely to disappear than steel, could therefore be one of the targets of future research in Gull Pond.
Of course, the plane's propeller was undoubtedly the element most likely to suffer in the event of a crash. I'm not talking about the fire, which could very well have destroyed the whole thing if it had been sufficiently severe.
- May 19, 2024, 02:18:35 AM
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