Lights on C119 Hamilton Standard Prop

[Donsa320]

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

I did not think so.

I wonder if it was some locally devised mod to detect a huge problem that hollow steel blade has, namely bad nicks that allowed moisture to get into the hollow space. They had a kind of mesh, nylon filler in there. That mesh could capture moisture, freeze, expand and cause a bulge and then a blade failure. It was a big problem in Korea on the C-119C on the rough strips over there. It is posslble someone decided to pressurize the blades with N2 as was done on some helicopters in attempt to detect cracks.

It is a stretch, but....<grin>

DC

 

[Whistlin' Dan]

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.

Hemet Valley operated some C-119C's (4360's, Ham-Stan props, J-34) into the early 80's. I think one is on display at a museum at Fox Field in Lancaster.

"Lights at the base of the propeller blades?" Never in 40 years have I seen or heard of such a thing! If I had to guess, I'd go with the "N2, low-press blade crack detector" function like they have on some helo's. But even that's a stretch.

 

[Donsa320]

Hemet Valley operated some C-119C's (4360's, Ham-Stan props, J-34) into the early 80's. I think one is on display at a museum at Fox Field in Lancaster.

"Lights at the base of the propeller blades?" Never in 40 years have I seen or heard of such a thing! If I had to guess, I'd go with the "N2, low-press blade crack detector" function like they have on some helo's. But even that's a stretch.

Hey, thanks for the "update" on the "C" having been used out there. As for the lights, ditto.

DC

 

[Kaman]

might have something to do with the fact that some of the C-119s were equipped with electric vs. hydraulic props...I am just guessing on that. Not that it has any bearing on this discussion, but my Dad flew the C-119 for about 10 years in the USAF. Not his favorite...underpowered and those electric props were a constant concern from issues with runaway RPM issues.

Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead

 

[Mike Eggen]

Hemet Valley operated some C-119C's (4360's, Ham-Stan props, J-34) into the early 80's. I think one is on display at a museum at Fox Field in Lancaster.

"Lights at the base of the propeller blades?" Never in 40 years have I seen or heard of such a thing! If I had to guess, I'd go with the "N2, low-press blade crack detector" function like they have on some helo's. But even that's a stretch.

My instructor flew out of Hemet in the '70s so Ithink the lights must be somthing specific to fire fighters. They do look like they're connected to the deice boots.
the sockets are at the base of the blades

 

[Donsa320]

might have something to do with the fact that some of the C-119s were equipped with electric vs. hydraulic props...I am just guessing on that. Not that it has any bearing on this discussion, but my Dad flew the C-119 for about 10 years in the USAF. Not his favorite...underpowered and those electric props were a constant concern from issues with runaway RPM issues.

Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead

I'm afraid that your Dad's memory is faulty. No C-119 ever had an "Electric" propeller installed. The original developement airplane was the XC-82B/XC-119A. Only one was built, It had the 4360 engine and Ham-Standard props, as did the production version ie; the C-119B and so on. The "B" had a slightly wider fuselage and dual main landing gear as opposed to the XC airplane's C-82 style single wheel main gear. The name then changed from "Packet" to "Flying Boxcar" The "X" airplane and a few of the first "B" models may have had electric landing gear and flaps.

Now, the Ham-Standard propeller was "Step Motor" controlled with switches in the cockpit but they just adjusted speeder spring tension for rpm control. The propllers were always hydraulic. Other airplanes such as all piston Convars had the step motor governor controls. The early C-119's also had a sync function for the props and a sort of auto-throttle which advanced the throttles during climb to restore the manifold pressure as you climbed. Some nice stuff for it's day. The step motor controls might have led some to believe that the props were electric.
There were Curtiss Electric props around in those days. Some C-46's had them and unbelievably the first two YC-130's had Curtiss props when they came to Pope AFB, Ft Bragg in 1954 for drop tests for the Army. The airplanes sat for long periods with no props since the props had to go back to the factory for overhaul after only 15 to 20 hours of flight. The clutches did not hold up. BTW those 2 airplanes had the throttles suspended from the overhead, seaplane style.
Aero-Products then won the production contract and the C-130A came with those props.

It is off the thread but thought I'd throw it in. <grin>

DC

 

[transpac]

The early C-119's also had a sync function for the props and a sort of auto-throttle which advanced the throttles during climb to restore the manifold pressure as you climbed. Some nice stuff for it's day.

Don't know how the "auto-throttle" worked on the C-119, but I suspect it was similar to the system on the early versions of the P2V. It was a pressure sensing gizmo that hooked to the linkage between the throttle and carb. It advanced the throttle as the manifold pressure dropped during a climb. It never worked very well on the P2V and was eventually removed.

 

[Donsa320]

Don't know how the "auto-throttle" worked on the C-119, but I suspect it was similar to the system on the early versions of the P2V. It was a pressure sensing gizmo that hooked to the linkage between the throttle and carb. It advanced the throttle as the manifold pressure dropped during a climb. It never worked very well on the P2V and was eventually removed.

Thanks for that, though I am a little surprised since the P2V had the C-W R3350 T-C engine and the 119C had the P&W R4360 and that is the way it worked, or did not work, there too.

I'm hoping the originator of the thread comes back on and explains the "Lights".

DC

 

[Mike Eggen]

[

I'm hoping the originator of the thread comes back on and explains the "Lights".

I was hoping someone here would tell me as my Instructor said he would never tell because we would tell the incoming class. But seeing as he's retiring after this semester maybe I can pry it out of him. I'd post a picture but I'm not sure if that can be done on this site.

 

[Mike Eggen]

I'm close to finding the answer. He told us the lights serve the same purpose as ones located inside jukebox's and pinball machines they're out of sight so not part of the entertainment. I'll call a friend who has a pinball museum.
He should have the answer.