The Propeller - Lexington Park MD - Ship Screws and Aircraft Props on Waymarking.com

A vintage wooden propeller is displayed on a wall at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum in Lexington Park, Maryland. According to information posted at the museum, the prop was donated in 1976 by the Flight Test Directorate, but its history is unknown. However this type of propeller was made for the U.S. Navy from 1918 to 1921. It was an experimental propeller for the Navy's flying boats. (The photo at right was taken of a picture of a flying boat posted at the museum under the propeller.)

The 10½'-long wooden laminated prop was produced by Marble USA of Ohio. It is stamped with serial# 378 on the front and rear face of the hub and part# WPX4987 on the back hub. (The X indicates it was experimental.) The leading edges and tips are covered with copper with aluminum rivets. The metal-clad edges were more suitable for water aircraft because they were designed to withstand water impact.

The mounting bolt pattern on this propeller suggests it was probably used on the Liberty V-12 (USA-12) engine which was widely used after WWI. The most likely aircraft was the Curtiss/NAF F-SL flying boat.

Because this prop was experimental, it is assumed it probably came to the Naval Air Station Patuxent River in the early 1940s when the Navy moved their test and evaluation facilities to Maryland.

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