Curtiss Read prop on Rangers

[hotfoot49]

'Steve:

My Dad and his Brothers had a F-24R-39 back in the late 1940s. It had a Curtiss Read metal prop on it and he use to tell me that they had to take it off because the CAA said it was "Illeagal". I believe they had a 165 HP Ranger with a tapered shaft. Now after being around the Fairchilds and Rangers, I suspect that it was required to be removed because of the possibility of the prop breaking the crankshaft.

I've seen pictures of some early PT-19's with a metal prop. It looked like a shorter version of the ones that were on Stearmans. I did see one of these a guy had in his "parts". It was a heavy thing. Felt like a good boat anchor. Most of the PT pictures I've seen have wooden props.

I'd take the metal prop off if it were me Steve.

Keep 'Em Flying!

Mike Kelly

Fairchild Club'