47.25" Properllers

Wood propellers used to be replaced as often as tires. Old ones were usually taken home, completed with a clock, and hung over the mantel. Mechanics, pilots, flight-crew. They wore propeller tiepins and badges and transformed propellers into memorabilia...

WOOD PROPELLERS USED TO BE REPLACED AS OFTEN AS TIRES. OLD ONES WERE USUALLY TAKEN HOME, COMPLETED WITH A CLOCK, AND HUNG OVER THE MANTEL. MECHANICS, PILOTS, FLIGHT-CREW. THEY WORE PROPELLER TIEPINS AND BADGES AND TRANSFORMED PROPELLERS INTO MEMORABILIA...

You can’t see the mechanic from your open cockpit. You yell … “Contact” and the propeller jumps to life, the plane starts to shudder. The mechanic pulls away the wheel blocks and escapes. The noise is incredible, a nine cylinder...