Stock No: 11893

A historic World War I De Havilland two blade mahogany, ash and walnut propeller. The eight stud fitting holes indicate that this propeller would have been fitted to a De Havilland Gnome 14 cylinder, 100hp two row radial rotary engine which powered the BS, later designated the SE2, single engine World War 1 scout/fighter designed and first flown by a young Geoffrey De Havilland around 1913. It was the first aeroplane in the world specifically designed as a fast single seat scout and as Bleriot was said to have originated the tractor biplane, was known as the Bleriot Scout, or B.S.1. It was manufactured at the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough, England. From a private collection of early aeroplane propellers.
English early 20th century.

Notes: The wooden, circular section monococque fuselage was a masterpiece of the cabinet maker's art and years ahead of its time. It merged smoothly into the lines of the closely cowled engine to give the B.S.1 a very good streamlined shape. Lateral control was by warping the single bay wings and the tail unit featured a diminutive rudder, without fixed fin, mounted above a one-piece tailplane and elevator. For its day the B.S.1 was very fast and in March 1913 its designer, now Lt. de Havilland, Special Reserve, was timed over the speed course at 91.4 m.p.h. Unfortunately the rudder was far too small for the considerable keel surface of the deep front fuselage and directional control was poor. Consequently, later on the day of the speed trials, it went out of control in a turn and de Havilland was injured as it struck the ground in a flat spin.

Link to: decorative antiques and furnishings