Lights on C119 Hamilton Standard Prop

[Mike Eggen]

My instructor in my Power plant class has a prop off a C-119C that has small lights at the base of the propeller blades and he won't divulge what they're for if we can't figure out what their purpose is. I suspect the prop is off a plane he flew at Hemet as a fire bomber. Anyone Know? I win 600 Gazillion if I come up with the correct answer, you get half!

 

[PC12Cowboy]

ice lights

 

[pilotyip]

where is avbug when you need him?

 

[Mike Eggen]

PC12Cowboy, I thought that also-they look like they are wired into the boots,but that was shot down. Pilotyip, my thoughts exactly.

 

[acpilot]

My instructor in my Power plant class has a prop off a C-119C that has small lights at the base of the propeller blades and he won't divulge what they're for if we can't figure out what their purpose is. I suspect the prop is off a plane he flew at Hemet as a fire bomber. Anyone Know? I win 600 Gazillion if I come up with the correct answer, you get half!

Could it be an indication that anti-ice boots were functioning? Incomplete circuit = no light?

This is just a guess, but it makes sense to me.

 

[Mike Eggen]

Yeah it made sense to me too, but that's not it

 

[Donsa320]

My instructor in my Power plant class has a prop off a C-119C that has small lights at the base of the propeller blades and he won't divulge what they're for if we can't figure out what their purpose is. I suspect the prop is off a plane he flew at Hemet as a fire bomber. Anyone Know? I win 600 Gazillion if I come up with the correct answer, you get half!

Are you sure that is a C-119C propeller blade? I did not think any "C" models made it into fire bomber service, only "G" 's which would have an Aero-products prop. The Navy Neptune did use that same Hamilton Standard prop as the C-119C, however. Maybe an ex Navy guy has a clue in that case.
The very last C-119's in service did get some 3 bladed Ham-standard props off of retired C-121 Connies. If this is one of those maybe some Connie guy knows.

DC

 

[Mike Eggen]

Actually I'm not sure. There is a placard that says it is. It's a four blade not three, with
hollow blades. I'll find out more details next week

 

[Donsa320]

Actually I'm not sure. There is a placard that says it is. It's a four blade not three, with
hollow blades. I'll find out more details next week

Rog... I checked with an old friend who has just ferried the last two flyable C-119's to their final resting places. One was a "G" the other an "F" but with the 3 blade replacement prop. He also has flown Connies and has no idea what these mystery lights are.

BTW the Boeing 377/C-97's also used that hollow steel prop. I flew the KC-97 but it did not have the lights.

We look forward to the answer.

DC

 

[transpac]

Are you sure that is a C-119C propeller blade? I did not think any "C" models made it into fire bomber service, only "G" 's which would have an Aero-products prop. The Navy Neptune did use that same Hamilton Standard prop as the C-119C, however. Maybe an ex Navy guy has a clue in that case.
The very last C-119's in service did get some 3 bladed Ham-standard props off of retired C-121 Connies. If this is one of those maybe some Connie guy knows.

DC

Navy P2V-4/5/6/7 prop blades didn't have any such light.