Rotol Airscrews, Ltd was formed in 1937 as a joint venture of Rolls-Royce and Bristol. The name, a combination of “Rolls-Royce” and “Bristol,” was suggested by the wife of a Bristol employee being transferred to the new enterprise.

A British shortage of duralumin material during World War II led to application of the Schwarz process, where special machinery pressed a hard metal mesh coating and cellulose sheet over the entire propeller primarily consisting of soft wood, usually pine or fir, to produce very hard composite wood blades.

In the post-war period, with the metal material shortage ended, so did application of wood blades. In 1958 Bristol and Rolls-Royce sold Rotol to the Dowty Group. Today Dowty Rotol is one of the world’s leading propeller manufacturers.

 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 Kingdom Type PROPULSION-Propellers & Impellers Physical Description Type: Three-Blade, Variable-Pitch, Wood and Metal Diameter: 328 cm (129 in.) Chord: 25.4 cm (10 in.) Engine Application: Rolls Royce Merlin Dimensions 3-D: 154.9 x 25.4 x 12.1cm (61 x 10 x 4 3/4 in.)
Storage: 201.9 x 66.7 x 52.7cm (79 1/2 x 26 1/4 x 20 3/4 in.)
 Materials Wood
Aluminum
Paint
Steel
Copper Alloy
Resin
 Inventory Number A19601434000 Credit Line Transferred from the U.S. Air Force Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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