CALIFORNIAN DH60 GIPSY MOTH

Just in from California, two great pictures of a DH 60 Gipsy Moth, now sporting a Hercules Propeller and performing very well.  

GROPPO TRAIL

Congratulations to Brian Main for completing his Groppo Trail project, now test flown.  The highly efficient Hercules propeller gives great cruise performance without compromising short take-off and climb rate.  We at Hercules are as concerned about performance and we are about quality and appearance of every propeller we make.

KITFOX

Spotted somewhere in England during the summer, a Jabiru 2200 powered Kitfox with enhanced style and performance, having been fitted with a purpose designed Hercules Propeller.

PROPELLER REFURBISHMENT

The Hercules Propellers wooden prop refurbishment department is as busy as ever, overhauling and rejuvenating propellers from a wide variety of manufacturers all over the world.

Hers is a picture of a 3-blade Colin Walker propeller, made in Canada, which is now as good as new, having had the Hercules treatment.

There's more information about our refurbishment service on our main website.

NEW COMPANY TRANSPORT...?

GIPSY MOTH G-AAMY

On the subject of Gipsy Moths... here is a recent picture of the re-engined G-AAMY DH60 Moth with it's new, great performing Hercules propeller.

THE HERCULES BLOG RETURNS

After a blogging break for a few months, the Hercules blog returns.  Stand by for the latest news and pictures from our aircraft propeller factory.

Hercules have been very, very busy designing and manufacturing propellers for all sorts of exciting aircraft - regular updates and news from the past few months to follow.

First for the re-newed blog, a picture of our Gipsy Moth propeller designed for a DH60GM based in California.  The propeller arrived State-side on Christmas Eve!  Our customer tells us that the propeller is already fitted on the aircraft and will be test flown as soon as the weather allows.  I thought every day is a flying day in California!

GIPSY MOTH PROPELLER

Our latest propeller under construction is for a DH60 Gipsy Moth.  The aircraft is being re-engined with a Gipsy Major 1 engine which has been modified to run the right way up - cylinders pointing upwards.  The increase in power will make this aircraft much more usable than with the original Wright engine.

Still in the CNC machine - here is a picture of the new wooden propeller which we designed to suit this unique engine and airframe combination.  Note the extra wide tapering hub to match with the cowlings.

BRISTOL SCOUT

The Bristol Scout project is progressing very well with all the primary airframe now complete.  Hercules Propellers have employed their CNC machining capabilities to produce all the wing and undercarriage struts for the aircraft - saving at least a week worth of work which it would have otherwise taken making them by hand.

PIPER VAGABOND

Spotted at the LAA Rally Sywell - an immaculate continental A65 powered Piper Vagabond fitted with a Hercules wooden propeller.  The owner told us that he is delighted with the performance and it feels as smooth as a turbine - a common observation by those who fly behind a Hercules.

SUCCESS AT THE LAA RALLY SYWELL

Thanks to everyone who came to see us at the Rally, we had a great time and received lots of positive comments on our stand and indeed the propellers we had on display.

As a result, we have many new orders for our wood propellers for a wide range of aircraft, new and old.

Here is a picture of our trade stand at Sywell before the crowds arrived.

MORANE SAULNIER MS317

Just in - pictures of Tony Whitehead's fantastic MS317 - fitted with a Hercules wood propeller specially designed and manufactured for this aircraft and engine combination.

Tony has recently restored this Continental W670 powered French classic.

Gipsy Major Propellers

Here is a recent picture of a bunch of Gipsy Major powered Moth propellers ready for dispatch

From top to bottom:

D.H. design for Puss Moth

Hercules Tiger Moth design in satin black

Hercules Tiger Moth design in clear Varnish

Hercules Tiger Moth design in gloss black blades/clear hub

And at the bottom, a Lang-Airscrew LA604 reproduction.

INTERNATIONAL MOTH RALLY - WOBURN

Hercules Propellers had a great time at the Woburn Moth Rally, which saw the debut of our new trade stand displaying Tiger, Gipsy and Puss Moth propellers that we have recently manufactured.

ISAACS FURY

Check out the latest edition of the UK magazine 'Flyer'.  There is a feature on Paul Catanach's Isaacs Fury, now sporting a Hercules Propeller, specifically designed for his engine and airframe combination.  Paul tells us that it performs better in take off, climb and cruise since fitting the Hercules Propeller.

Flyer Magazine's site is here: www.flyer.co.uk

ORIGINAL LANG LA604

Much favoured and sought after by Tiger Moth owners, the Lang LA604 was a great performing and good-looking replacement to the factory fitted de Havilland propellers.

There are very few airworthy examples of these propellers left in existence.  We have obtained one of these propellers and are currently manufacturing a reproduction of the propeller, which will become available to owners wanting that added bit of originality, as an alternative to our own design for the Tiger.

This is our propeller technician George Simoni analysing the '604 using our purpose built Co-ordinate Measuring Machine.

VAGABOND PROPELLER

Just finished and ready for dispatch to our customer in the UK, a wood propeller designed for a Continental C90 powered Piper Vagabond.

We have made several of this design in the past and our customers report startling cruise and climb performance.  And of course, Hercules Propellers have become famous for low vibration and smoothness when running.

Every Hercules Propeller is made to order.  This one has been finished in traditional American colour to suit the intended aeroplane

SOPWITH PUP PROPELLER

Just arrived at Hercules Propellers, a very beautiful original Sopwith Pup propeller.

This huge propeller measured 102" diameter and was manufactured by Frederick Sage & Co. Ltd during the First World War.  Frederick Sage was a shop fitting company that turned to aircraft production to help with the war effort.

This beautiful wood propeller is on loan to us from a museum so that we can produce a reproduction propeller for a replica Sopwith Pup, currently under construction.

MOTHS AT WOBURN

Hercules Propellers will have a stand at Woburn in August with many propellers to see.

Hope to see you there.

SPITFIRE MK26A

Spotted somewhere in Scotland, a MK26A Spitfire.  This example is powered by a 8-cylinder Jabiru engine and is performing well with it's purpose designed and made Hercules propeller.

LITTLE FOKKER

Test flown on the same day that the customer received it, here are some pictures of a wooden propeller that we designed and manufactured for a Grass Strip Aviation Fokker Eindecker.

This propeller demonstrates our adaptability and ability to design and manufacture truly bespoke propellers for unique aircraft and engine combinations.

This particular aircraft is fitted with a 30 hp Briggs and Stratton engine fitted with a 2.2:1 reduction drive.

We designed this propeller to match the engine HP, RPM, expected performance, airframe characteristics and to look like a propeller form the WW1 era.

Our customer tells us that he thinks the propeller is a work of art and just as importantly, it really does perform well.

The Grass Strip Aviation Eindecker is becoming very popular and loved by all who has flown one.

See Grass Strip's site: http://www.grass-strip-aviation.com  And blog: http://grass-strip-aviation.blogspot.co.uk

SENSENICH OVERHAUL

Sensenich Overhaul

Fresh out of our finishing shop, a very nice Sensenich propeller from a Lycoming IO360 powered Skybolt.  Hercules have inspected, refinished and balanced this propeller, which has been given a new lease of life and is now good for many more years of service.

RYAN ST-A

Just in from France, a picture of the wood propeller that Hercules designed and manufactured for a Ryan ST-A.  The flight performance report is very positive indeed, the propeller gives another 10 knots in the cruise without loss of climb performance.  Another very successful propeller form Hercules!

PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER

Graham Hewitt has just sent these pictures of his very beautiful Pietenpol Air Camper with a Continental O-200 engine, following a recent air-to-air shoot.

Hercues Propellers designed and manufactured the wooden propeller fitted to this Australian based aircraft.

ANOTHER TWISTER

Spotted and photographed, another Silence Twister sporting a Hercules propeller.

Hercules seem to be the choice propeller for Silence Twister owners with either Jabiru or UL engines.

So not just vintage bi-plane props, Hercules design and manufacture excellent propellers for modern high performance aircraft too.

USED VINTAGE PROPS

A nice picture of a stack of well used vintage wooden propellers at the hercules factory, here for producing reproductions for our customer's aircraft restorations and replicas.

See our innovative reproduction methods on our website here: http://www.hercprops.com/reproductionpropellers.html

RENEGADE SPIRIT

Just finished and dispatched from the Hercules factory, a propeller we designed for a Jabiru 3300 powered Renegade Spirit Bi-pane, destined for Belgium.

We send our wooden propellers to all corners of the globe.  We are working on a Tiger Moth propeller at the moment, destined for Australia.

BUGATTI 100P

Just in from Oklahoma, two new pictures of amazing the Bugatti 100P project showing the propellers fitted.  The propellers were manufactured in the UK by Hercules.

If you are not already, follow this very exciting project on Facebook, it is going to be the great aviation event of the year when this machine flies.  Remember, the one-off original from 1939 which is now in the EAA museum never flew!

Check out http://www.facebook.com/TheBugatti100pProject

RYAN ST-A

Recently finished and dispatched to France, a wooden propeller which we have designed and manufactured for a Gipsy Major powered Ryan ST-A.  A unique propeller for a unique aircraft.

The paint on the tips has been specially mixed to exactly match the trim colour on the aircraft - an extra service offered by Hercules.

NEW WOODEN PROPELLER FOR WESTLAND WIDGEON

Regular followers of our blog will know that we have need working on a project to create a reproduction of a Westland Widgeon propeller, working from original drawings.

The propeller is now finished and ready for dispatch.

Below are pictures showing the process of making this large splendid propeller.

Finished propeller

Propeller on the balancing rig

CNC machining complete

CNC finishing cut - second side

3D CAD model created from original drawings

Original drawings supplied to us by our customer

Westland Widgeon

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RYAN ST-A

Another unique propeller designed by Hercules is currently under construction for a unique Ryan ST-A.

Originally powered by a Menasco engine, this example has been re-engined with a de Havilland Gipsy  Major 1 engine, giving it a little more power and greater spares availability than the original Menasco engine.

This propeller design has been created by us to optimise the performance of this unusual yet very beautiful airframe and engine combination.

Below is a picture of the propeller in our CNC machine, a picture of the new propeller ready for varnishing and a picture of a Ryan ST-A, similar to the one we are producing the propeller for.