Here's something just a bit different I thought I'd share with you guys. This is a small propeller that drove a fuel pump on NC3 during the First Atlantic Crossing. It is documented by the flight engineer Richardson as a experimental propeller and was noted to work smoother and better than the single blade version. As you history buffs know, NC3 made it right up to the last leg of the journey where it was damaged by rough seas. NC4 was able to complete the last leg of the flight and became the first plane to cross the Atlantic. There is a "Path" video showing NC3 and at one point you can clearly see this little propeller mounted on it's perch on the hull. Now for the interesting part. Was this prop removed from NC3 and used on NC4 for the last leg of the journey since it worked better and provided better operation? The person at the Emil Buehler Library in Pensacola Florida cut me a little short when he was researching the information logs. He wanted a 100 bux to tell me the rest of the story and I never agreed to pay it since I thought that was a little cheesy. I didn't have anymore contact with him or them after that. Anyway, I guess I need to finish gathering the info and document it while it's still on my mind and Grandpa said he borrowed it from NC4. Here are some photos, the only ID marks is "SP 5" which is stamped on each blade which I'm not sure what it means. NC4 is on display in the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola Florida. It has the single bladed wooden propeller in place where this one went on NC3. If you guys have any info or a friend that wouldn't care to "divulge the rest of the story" it would be greatly appreciated.
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