Single blade propeller ? ! ?

Question

I have a bet with a buddy of of mine that decades ago the aircraft industry tried a prototype single bladed counter balanced propeller on an aircraft.

Can anyone verify this? What aircraft company did this?

Answer 1

If you are saying a prop that only had a blade on one side of center, I'd have to say I would highly doubt the success of any such test.  And, I'd have to question the logic in using one.

Answer 2

I have seen pictures of this. It was done back when propellors were still considered cutting edge technology. I can't say what the reason was for doing it that way, and obviously didn't catch on. If I had to guess, it would be that there was concern about a 2 bladed prob travelling into it's own wash and being less efficient because of it. High speed photography and wind tunnel testing have proven this untrue... but back 80-90 years... well...aviation was still considered magic in about half the world.

Answer 3

My crusty old A&P teacher confirmed this to me last week.  they tried a single prop with a counter weight on the other side to prevent vibration and thing from ripping apart.  It did work and was pretty efficient, but it was phased out for multibladed props.  The crusty old A&P teacher is probably enough to have seen them in person but he didn't mention which company made them.

Answer 4

You win..

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/597132...

Answer 5

What would be the use of having a single blade?  You would run into all kinds of weight issues or vibrations from movement as well as centrifugal force that would work against direction of flight and rotations.

Answer 6

I found some motorized gliders that have that single blade system.