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When Orville Wright moved to Oakwood, Ohio in 1914, he became acquainted with his neighbor, George Hartzell. George's son, Robert, had a strong interest in aviation and was encouraged by Orville to begin making propellers at his father's walnut wood products business. Robert left the University of Cincinnati in 1917 to begin the propeller venture. The United States had just entered World War I and the war effort created an instant and almost unmanageable demand for Hartzell Walnut Propellers. Hartzell supplied propellers to nearby Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, as well as Glen Curtiss' company and other early aviation pioneers.

This artifact is a spare propeller for the US Navy Airship Akron which operated between 1931 and 1933, and was destroyed in a thunderstorm off the coast of New Jersey in April 1933.

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type PROPULSION-Propellers & Impellers Manufacturer Hartzell Propeller Co.
Physical Description Type: Two-Blade, Fixed-Pitch, Wood Diameter: 480.1 cm (189 in.) Chord: 33 cm (13 in.) Engine Application: Maybach VL-2, 418 kw (560 hp) Dimensions Rotor/Propeller: 480.1 x 33 x 40.6 x 22.9 x 1.6 cm (15 ft 9 in. x 13 in. x 16 in. 9 in. x 5/8 in.)
Materials Wood
Varnish
Copper Alloy
Aluminum
Steel
Inventory Number A19360023000 Credit Line Transferred from the United States Navy, Bureau of Aeronautics Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.