Enola Gay propeller was (is?) used at A&M wind tunnel

BaitShack

3:16p, 10/23/11

I found this on wikipedia...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enola_Gay

The propellers that were used on the bombing mission were later shipped to Texas A&M University. One of these propellers was trimmed to 12½ ft for use in the university's Oran W. Nicks Low Speed Wind Tunnel. The lightweight aluminum variable pitch propeller is powered by a 1,250 kVA electric motor providing a wind speed up to 200 mph.[17]

[This message has been edited by BaitShack (edited 10/23/2011 2:34p).]

CanyonAg77

9:24p, 10/23/11

I'm pretty sure this is an Aggie Urban Legend that was debunked some years ago.

CanyonAg77

9:34p, 10/23/11

EDIT: Missed the assertion that they were trimmed. Still not buying it, trimming a rotating mass that big seems like a problem.

Different manufactures, different sizes

http://lswt.tamu.edu/info.htm

quote:
Power Section
Propeller Type 4-blade Curtiss Electric
Propeller Diameter 12.5 ft.

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2527

quote:

Home > Fact Sheets > Boeing B-29

BOEING B-29

PROPELLERS:
Manufacturer: Hamilton Standard Propeller division of United Aircraft Corp.
Type: 4-blade, full feathering
Diameter: 16 ft. 7 in.

[This message has been edited by CanyonAg77 (edited 10/23/2011 8:51p).]

CanyonAg77

10:12p, 10/23/11

Okay, going to correct myself a bit. It does seem that the A&M prop is from a B-29.

http://gungeekrants.blogspot.com/2011/10/not-so-random-aircraft-b-29.html

quote:
We have a very special visitor today at Easterwood Field. FiFi is the only flying B-29 in the world. She came in and flew over town a few times before coming in for a landing....

Afterwards, I had a chat with one of the flight crew and have an appointment with the crew chief to talk B-29 Props. That is what we use here at the Texas A&M Low Speed Wind Tunnel as a driver for the air inside the tunnel. We are having a hard time finding replacement parts as you might imagine so I want to compare notes about any possible resources for spares.

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/pls/portallive/docs/1/5041928.PDF

quote:
Wind Tunnel has been in operation since 1961. Built as an open tunnel in the mid 1940’s, the wind tunnel was envisioned to support the aerospace industry in a 700 mile radius area.

The 7ft by 10 ft test section with a 16 ft length makes it the largest low speed wind tunnel in operation in Texas. Starting in the mid 1950’s with the help of a grant from Temco, the wind tunnel was made into an atmospheric closed circuit by the addition of asteel shell. A six component pyramidal balance was also added in order to complete the transformation to a top research facility.

The facility is powered by a 1200 HP electric motor, which drives a B29 aluminum propeller with an electric pitch mechanism. The standard propeller was trimmed to a 12½ ft diameter and rotates at a constant 900 RPM.

I'm still going to say it is not an Enola Gay prop. She was still flying in 1952 when transferred to the Smithsonian. I sincerely doubt her props were removed except for restoration at the Smithsonian.

[This message has been edited by CanyonAg77 (edited 10/23/2011 9:15p).]

BaitShack

10:54a, 10/24/11

http://www.mphpa.org/classic/NEWS/breaking_news_01.htm

The Norden bombsight, the original propellers, and much of the internal components used during the historic mission will be part of the restored aircraft.

"Original Propellers" doesn't rule out special ones that may have been installed as part of the mission.

My Dad is friends with a man who worked at the wind tunnel for years. I'm going to ask him if he knows anything.

BaitShack

10:58a, 10/24/11

I know these sites aren't exactly credible but I'm looking for whatever I can find.

http://www.aikensairplanes.com/corgi/c31803.htm

Flown to the South Pacific by its 11 man crew, it was one of 15 B29s modified with new engines, propellers and faster-acting bomb bay doors specifically for the bombing mission.

CanyonAg77

12:11p, 10/24/11

quote:
modified with new engines, propellers

I think this is part of the Legend. Enola Gay and the other 529thBG B-29s were lightened to carry the bomb. Someone looked at the wind tunnel prop, noticed it was aluminum, and decided it must have been from EG because it was lighter.

But best I can tell, all B-29 props were aluminum.

aggieclipper78

2:28p, 1/21/24

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiaqL6Fp--DAxWdmGoFHRmCC20QFnoECBMQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Flswt.tamu.edu%2Fam-wind-tunnel-prop-from-atom-bomb-dropper%2F&usg=AOvVaw0daRr6YR9wLr6SDYoc_ZT1&opi=89978449

Seem that the wind tunnel people claim it to be the real thing!

CT'97

9:29a, 1/22/24

I first heard this story when my son took Aviation merit badge hosted by the aeronautic engineering dept. He came home pretty excited about the story and I looked at with the same disbelief that CanyonAg77 has been.
But as was pointed out the news reported at the time indicates it was in fact the Enola Gay's prop from the missions to drop the bombs. There is also an anecdote that the Smithsonian contacted A&M to get the prop back so they could restore her completely and they were not happy when they found out the prop had been cut down to fit the tunnel.
I often wonder if this was a deal made through personal contacts from an Air Force veteran on staff at A&M. There are all sorts of similar stories in post WW2 of stuff going to cities for display with just a hand shake and a memo from the commander of the unit storing it.