Aviation Propeller Views
A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and air or water is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoulli's principle and Newton's third law. A propeller is often colloquially known as screw both in aviation and maritime.
An airplane propeller spins to pull an airplane forward just as an airplane's wings lift it upward, according to Boeing. Though it is best to leave propeller building for passenger planes to professional aviation companies, you can build a model-plane propeller on your own. You can purchase metal, wooden or plastic model airplane propellers online for anywhere from $5 to $150 (as of September 2010). However, you can also construct a wooden propeller at home.
Draw the shape of the propeller on the wooden board. The propeller should be shaped like a long oval with a center that is slightly thinner than the edges. The length and width of the propeller and the thickness of the wood depends on the size of your model airplane. For additional guidelines, examine other model airplanes or ask a friend who is an expert in aviation.
For the forty years following the first flight of the Wright brothers, airplanes used internal combustion engines to turn propellers to generate thrust. Today, most general aviation or private airplanes are still powered by propellers and internal combustion engines, much like your automobile engine. The engine takes air from the surroundings, mixes it with fuel, burns the fuel to release the energy in the fuel, and uses the heated gas exhaust to move a piston which is attached to a crankshaft. In the automobile, the shaft is used to turn the wheels of the car. In an airplane, the shaft is connected to a propeller.
Aviation Propeller Images
