Strange biplane with contra-props project

[richard]

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-ca-1930-Luftfahrt-Ingenieur-mit-Flugzeug-Modell-Doppel-Propeller-System-/262465136771?hash=item3d1c242883:g:liIAAOSwMNxXUA0O

 

[hesham]

Great find my dear Richard,

and maybe you will find it in flugsport ?.

 

[richard]

The source is not Flugsport , but an ebay offer : I think , it is an american model ; the photo seems to be an original one made in New York ...

 

[Schneiderman]

The only word visible on the label is altieri, which is Italian, so a search of Italian or US magazines may provide an answer

edit... There are several US patents for propellers filed by Alexander Altieri in the early 1930s, it may well be that this multi-propeller aircraft concept is one of his

 

[Apophenia]

... There are several US patents for propellers filed by Alexander Altieri in the early 1930s, it may well be that this multi-propeller aircraft concept is one of his

Yes. I suspect that the model represents Altieri's 'Auxiliary propeller for aircraft' (US 1850066 A) of April 1931:
http://www.google.com.ph/patents/US1850066

'Propeller for aircraft' (US 1887004 A) of Sept 1931 is a variation on the theme:
http://www.google.ch/patents/US1887004

 

[hesham]

And if we sure,it was from USA and not Italy,was it a military aircraft,?.

 

[riggerrob]

Looks like the swiveling, wing-mounted propellers were meant to substitute for ailerons when you want to roll the airplane.
We have subsequently learned that gyroscopic precession can really complicate that concept.

OTOH those scimitar prop blades pre-shadowed the latest (2023) fashion in toroidal propellers.

 

[Apophenia]

And if we sure,it was from USA and not Italy,was it a military aircraft,?.

Yes, from the USA - Alexander Altieri was from Philadelphia.

Not a military aircraft. Not really an aircraft at all - more of an auxiliary propulsion concept.

 

[Nik]

Sorta 'Vectored Thrust' ? But, as mentioned above, thwarted by gyroscopic effects. Hence, perhaps, the contra-props ??

 

[riggerrob]

Sorta 'Vectored Thrust' ? But, as mentioned above, thwarted by gyroscopic effects. Hence, perhaps, the contra-props ??

Contra-props are not really a solution to gyroscopic precession. It just means that when you tilt the prop shaft up, one prop will try to pull to the right while the other prop will try to pull to the left. …. a very confusing way to fly.

 

[Nik]

I'll not 'Pull a Laithwaite' and dispute that...