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Charles M. Olmsted, a European trained physicist from Upstate New York, had an interest in flight from his early years. His success with gliders in the 1890's led to the formation of the Buffalo-Pitts-Olmsted Syndicate in 1910 to develop aircraft. Following failure of the related agricultural equipment manufacturing company, Olmsted formed the CMO Physical Laboratory, continuing to manufacture and sell his ultra-efficient propellers. Olmsted propellers had a significant role in aviation history, including weight carrying records and the first transatlantic aircraft flight, but differed from other propellers, having a large surface near the blade base and very little surface at the tip. Olmsted's propellers represented a fundamental difference in design philosophy that has not been duplicated by any other designer.

This left-turning pusher propeller was produced for an early flying boat, the Curtiss K, which had a troubled technical and legal history involving the Imperial Russian government's World War I Black Sea operations.

 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 Designer Charles M Olmsted
 Manufacturer Charles M Olmsted
 Physical Description Type: Two-blade, fixed-pitch, maple, pusher propeller. Diameter: 281.9 cm (111 in.) Chord: 61 cm (24 in.) Engine Application: Curtiss V-model,116 kw (155 hp), 1400 rpm NASM attached brass ID placard needs to be removed. Dimensions Rotor/Propeller: 281.9 x 19.7 x 61 x 3.5 cm (111 x 7 3/4 x 24 x 1 3/8 in.)
 Materials Wood
Paint
Steel
 Inventory Number A19330051000 Credit Line Purchased from Sternheimer Bros., Richmond, VA Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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