History of the Aircraft Propeller

History of the Propeller The aircraft propeller looks like a simple mechanism to the uneducated individual. To the educated, an aircraft propeller represents the highest sophistication in aerodynamics, mechanical engineering and structural design. This report will touch on the history of the propeller, from early pioneers/experiments, advancement during/after the war, all the way up to current applications of the propeller. The creation of the propeller can be traced back to Leonardo da Vinci. …

…never researched this topic before and feel that I've benefited from writing it. I enjoyed researching the history of the propeller and it's contributions to aviation milestones. I've taken you, the reader, from the early experiments of da Vinci, the wooden props of the Wright brothers, the design of the variable pitch propeller, through the advanced concept of the "un-ducted" fan. I hope this report was as interesting to read as it was to write.