Warbird Information Exchange

I just saw a photo of a Coronado and noticed the inboard engines have a four bladed prop while the outboard engines have a three bladed prop. Why is that? Could it be for harmonics? Could it have something to do with the twin vertical fins?

An excellent question! I'm afraid it might run along the lines of "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsieroll tootsie pop?"--the world may never know!

Take comfort in knowing you're not the only one to ask. Perhaps the real answer lies buried somewhere in this article:

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/pl ... 039a.shtml

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Excellent stuff on Coronados here:

http://www.vpnavy.com/aircraft_pb2y_history.html

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

The outboard engines had Curtiss Electric reversable props to make docking easier.

I didn't know this until recently, and I asked some questions on the Coronado that is in museum restoration at Pensacola.

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If God had wanted man to fly behind a flat motor, Pratt Whitney would've built one.

The answer is......."Three."

Taken from wikipedia (and yes, I remember the commercial well)...

Boy: Mr. Cow...

Mr. Cow: Yeeeeesss?

Boy: How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?

Mr. Cow: I don't know, I always end up biting. Ask Mr. Fox, for he's much clever than I.

Boy: Mr. Fox, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?

Mr. Fox: Why don't you ask Mr. Turtle, for he's been around a lot longer than I? Me, heheh, I bite.

Boy: Mr. Turtle, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?

Mr. Turtle: I've never even made it without biting. Ask Mr. Owl, for he is the wisest of us all.

Boy: Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?

Mr. Owl: A good question. Let's find out. A One... A.two-HOO...A three..
(crunch sound effect)

Mr. Owl: A Three!

Boy: If there's anything I can't stand, it's a smart owl.

Many of the Coronados were converted into VIP Flag transports and as a means to reduce the cabin noise level the four-bladed props were added on the inboard engines. Various Admirals in the Pacific theatre were assigned PB2Y's for their usage.

From the posted link:

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...The 3 blades use outboard because farther from hull and higher on wing so would have less chance for damaged from spray on takeoff and landing. the 3 blades were somewhat longer than the 4 blade props. The reverse would be for inboard props. Question no. 2: reversing inboard props were required for maneuvering on water as you taxi to pick up a buoy or get in to a floating gas dock All 4 props were Curtis Electric but only inboard would go through flat pitch into a reverse thrust position. I put in 1800 hours in these things in VR-2 out of Alameda in 1943-1945. Some of our landings put the water over the wing so length of props had little effect. Also we had our inboard props go to flat pitch while in the air. RPM went to 5800 when 2800 RPM was take off max..." Relayed to Vic Kretsinger [27DEC98]

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-Bill
B-17E 41-2595 "Desert Rat" Restoration Team

This is awesome! I haven't had this much fun since DIK SHEPERD left. One can almost feel the tension building:

Reversible pitch props on outboard motors vs. inboard

Water spray reduction vs. sound reduction

(And the phrase "tramp stamp" hasn't even been uttered yet!)


Still needed are:

1) Pics from Jack

2) Extrapolations by JDK

3) Lockdown by Ztex


In the meantime, free hot dogs & chips to those who post 2009 pics of the Coronado restoration at P-cola.

Ps. Gary, I'm sure I speak for many in thanking you for the trip down memory lane...didn't know you were such an old fart.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Aww, I was just a little whipper-snapper when that commercial was out. It used to interrupt my Saturday morning viewings of the Bugs Bunny & Roadrunner Show.

Gary

What is that decal under the cockpit window look like?


http://www.flyingboats.ca/FlyingBoats-o ... dated.html




That'll teach you to bring my name up in an unrelated thread!

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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Now You've done it!!!

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Aviation Illustration Website
http://shepartstudio.com/illustration/

Sweet pic, Z! Gee, maybe decals aren't so bad.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Pandora's box

Just a simple question....

Yesterday

Interesting pictures. Thanks for posting.

The engine cowling there just looks like a super-sized version of what's on a PBY Catalina, and the tailgunner's section doesn't look too far off from the B-24A. I just can't make out if the tailgunner has doors that slide back, like on Ol' 927, or if the whole thing moves around, like on a turret. You don't happen to have any more detailed shots of that area, do you? What about the inside of the tailgunner's compartment?

Gary