Spotted somewhere in England.

Staaken Z21 Flitzer

Here are a few pictures taken today.  They are of Hercules' very own company aircraft and soon to be propeller development flying test-bed.

This lovely little bi-plane has been disassembled and put away into storage for the last few years but now it has been positioned into it's new purpose built hangar at Nympsfield.  The aircraft is in good condition, just needing a few tidying up jobs, re-rigging and inspecting for it's ticket.

Ironically, the only part missing is the propeller....  We'd better get on and make one...

Having this aircraft on line and at the factory's disposal means that we have a test bed available to fly some variations in propeller design as we are always looking for ways to lengthen our lead in the propeller performance stakes.

We'll keep you posted with progress as this aircraft nears readiness to fly.

Out of Africa

Remember the 1985 movie 'Out of Africa' starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep?  Needless to say, by far the best parts of the movie were the flying scenes featuring a Gipsy Moth.... Not sure what the rest of the movie was about....!

The aircraft used in the movie, G-AAMY is an American made DH 60 with a Wright-Gipsy L320 licence built engine (turns the opposite way to the British built originals)

This aircraft is still very much airworthy and has just been sold at auction in Paris for a hefty amount and is now destined to return to Africa, to it's new home in Kenya.

Hercules Propellers have been commissioned to design a propeller to optimise the take off performance of the aircraft, to compensate for the high altitude of the new base airfield (6000 feet) and the relatively high temperatures.  We have adjusted the propeller design to make sure that the engine achieves close to the maximum rated RPM when on the chocks, considering the altitude and temperature.  The pitch is particularly fine to minimise take off distance as these aircraft are not known for their take off performance at sea level in the cold - let alone hot and high in Africa!

This is the result.  It is a real beauty at 86" diameter, that's 7' 2" or 2.2 metres.  Not only specially designed to perform but also to look correct for the aircraft.

Although finished and ready to fly, the propeller is still with us, awaiting collection.  We will post pictures of it once fitted to the Moth.

George

This is George Simoni.  George runs our finishing shop, transforming our propellers from straight out of the CNC to dispatching them around the world.  George is looking suitably proud of his latest work.

New York Tiger Moth

Wim Stapel's very fine Tiger Moth, based in New York state - soon to be fitted with a Hercules Propeller.  Our own design of Tiger Moth propeller not only looks correct, with rounded tips and the same hub shape as the de Havilland originals, but also it really does optimises the TM performance, giving the best balance between take off, climb and cruise performance.

Nice truck in the background..... 2 points for the first to identify the make and model!

Staaken Flitzer

Mark Crawford's Jabiru powered Staaken Z21 Flitzer in Australia - now sporting a Hercules Propeller.

Gipsy Moth

Currently under construction, an exact replica of an original Gipsy 1 powered DH 60 Moth propeller for an aircraft currently being restored.  The next process will be forming and fitting brass leading edges, riveted and screwed in place.

We'll keep you updated with the progress of this prop, here on the blog - stay tuned....

Latest from the finishing shop

Just finished is a propeller destined for a Continental O-200 powered Piper Cub.  This propeller features Hercules' recessed aluminium crush-plate, giving the hub a really slick appearance.

Latest from the finishing shop

For the first time in a while, the sun is shining over the Hercules workshops in South-West England.
So it was a good opportunity to photograph the latest completed propellers.  Pictured here, freshly balanced and ready for dispatch, a propeller for a Tigre 150 hp Bucker Jungmann.

John Hopkin's Jungmann for which the new propeller is destined.  Check out another BA Swallow in the background - they are everywhere in England!

Fournier RF4

Congratulations to Dave Cook who has finished test flying his beautifully restored RF4, fitted with a Hercules Propeller, designed specifically for his aircraft and engine combo.  Dave told us that his Cruise speed and rate of climb has exceeded his expectations, being a great improvement over the previous propeller.  All Dave needs now is some spring time to go out and enjoy his machine!

Cub prop nearly machined

Cub prop nears completion of the machining stage of manufacture.

Cub propeller

Rear side of the Cub prop now finished.  The prop has been turned over and the CNC is machining the front of the propeller as I type this.  Note the Hercuthane protective leading edges are machined in place.

For more information on our Hercuthane LE system, see: http://www.hercprops.com/edgepropeller.html

Swedish Cub

A propeller destined for a Swedish based Continental C85 powered J3 Cub begins to take shape in our CNC machine.

Westland Widgeon

Works starts today to produce a propeller for a Cirrus II powered Westland Widgeon using original de Havilland factory drawings.  The first stage is to create a 3D CAD model of the propeller by plotting co-ordinates extrapolated from the drawings.

Latest ad. for the April edition of 'Light Aviation' magazine. http://lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/Magazine/LAMain.htm

Morane Saulnier MS317

Company founder Rupert Wasey eyes up a propeller being manufactured for a Continental W670 powered MS315 which is under restoration somewhere in England.

Swallow G-AFCL

Pobjoy Niagra powered BA Swallow II for which we have just completed a new propeller for owner and restorer Jim Cresswell.  We hope to see it flying again in the UK this summer.

Swallow Propeller

Recently completed reproduction of a Pobjoy powered BA Swallow propeller.

It's a big beast at 85" (216 cm) diameter.  

Jim Cresswell is in he final stages of completing the aircraft restoration.