Dowty Propellers

The business originated in 1937 as Rotol Airscrews Ltd., and was formed by Rolls-Royce and Bristol Aircraft to take over their propeller interests.

Rotol Airscrews Publication

During World War II, Rotol Airscrews supplied wooden- and aluminum-bladed propellers for such legendary fighters as the Spitfire and Hurricane, along with many other aircraft.

Rotol Airscrews Publication

One of the aircraft that Dowty supplied propellers for was the Fokker F.32

The Fokker F-32 was a passenger aircraft built by the Fokker Aircraft Corporation of America in 1929 in their Teterboro, New Jersey factory. It was the first four-engined aircraft designed and built in the United States.

Fokker F32 Propeller Blade – Dowty

 

Dowty R391 Advanced Propeller System

Propeller, Variable-Pitch, 6-blade, Dowty R391

Dowty introduced the R391 for the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules transport in 1996. Its six thin, swept-back blades are made of composite materials, mainly carbon and glass fibers with polyurethane foam filling.

It generates increased takeoff and climb performance and is quieter and half the weight of other propellers.

The origin of the hydraulic constant-speed mechanism dates back to the Hele-Shaw-Beacham propeller of 1924, one of the first successful variable-pitch designs.

Fokker F32 Propeller Blade - Dowty
Fokker F32 Propeller Blade - Dowty
Fokker F.32
Propeller, Variable-Pitch, 6-blade, Dowty R391
C130j
Rotol Airscrews Publication
Dowty Rotol - Publication
Rotol Airscrews Publication
Dowty Rotol - Propellers
Dowty Rotol - Propeller Test
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Rotol - Propeller Assembly
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Rotol - Propeller Assembly
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Rotol - Propeller Despatch
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Glass fibre 9ft diameter propeller blade with carbon fibre box spar.
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Section of glass fibre propeller blade showing carbon fibre box spar and polyurethane foam filling.
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Rotol - Contra-Rotating Nose cut-away
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Rotol - Propeller Assembly
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Rotol - Propeller Balancing
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Rotol - Propeller Test
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Rotol - Propeller Test
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Rotol - Propeller Test
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Rotol - Assembly
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Rotol - Propeller Balancing
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Rotol - Propeller Assembly
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Rotol - Propeller Assembly
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub

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