For sale: FLOTTORP PROPELLER for Aeronca Sedan

[Matt]

I am helping Carol Sebald out with posting her propeller for sale. If interested, please contact Carol directly (see contact details below). Here is what she writes:

I have a Flottorp Wooden Prop for an Aeronca 15AC Sedan (74CD50 Armor coated for a C-145-2 (0-300) Continental Engine, TC 754 PC4, A9200Y) that my dad gave me when he retired from his aviation business. It has never been on a plane. I would like to get $1,000 plus shipping for the prop. That price is based on recommendations from 2 different people that are still involved in the aviation business. Here's what one aero mechanic found: It's still a certified propeller. The type certificate is now owned by R Hunt Propeller Co under type certificate TC754. The type certificate gives basic data on the propellor. It does not show which airplanes use the propellor.

If you would like to enjoy a little "family history"..... The details I noted above, were from my dad, Don Stuber. He retired from American Aviation Co at Flying Cloud Field, Eden Prairie, MN USA back in 1989. When we were doing final inventory, he took this prop & placed it in the back end of my car and said - "this prop is still airworthy so don't go putting a clock in it or anything like that." We had a good chuckle over that! (If you check under Flying Cloud airport, the ILS approach to Runway 9R was named STUBR after his & my uncle's dedication to the small aircraft aviation business in Minnesota.)

Thank you!

Carol

Carol Sebald
1235 N Sutton Lake Blvd
Jordan, MN 55352 USA
H 952-492-2486
C 952-210-9307
E csebald AT frontiernet.net

[joea]

Matt,

Any idea what type of prop this is? Am guessing a climb considering its pitched at 50?

Thx,

Joe A

[Matt]

Joe,

I really don't know much about the Flottorp. I asked Burl, too, but he has not dealt with these either. The little that I do know, I found on the web pages linked below. I don't remember where exactly I read it, but someone stated that the protective "Armor" coating sometimes became brittle, would crack and then let humidity enter and stay between the coating and the wood. I guess, it all depends on the condition of the coating. Maybe this could be renewed, if necessary. Certainly a nice and vintage looking prop, though! Even for decoration – without a clock in the hub, of course!

Matt

http://www.modernwoodenpropellers.com/flottorp.htm
http://www.notplanejane.com/sensenich.htm

[joea]

Anyone know anything about these old props? My concern is that the "armor coating" is evidently not allowed anymore by the EPA (Matt, environmental protection asses here in America, they want to ban everything but hand soap) and not sure if anyone can even work with this prop anymore.

My biggest concern is that if you look at the photos above one tip has a line in the paint running back towards the hub. These "armor coated" props were well known for getting moisture under the coating and then the prop would have to be sent back and overhauled. Not even sure if Sensenich will touch a armor coated prop these days and even if they would, the minimum cost is $750 plus shipping. Add that to the price that Carol is asking for the prop and you might as well buy a new one.

Would appreciate any input that anyone has had with a "armor coated" prop, or any viewpoints on the status on this prop. Would love to save the prop and last thing I want to see is a clock in the hub, but am concerned if it can be made airworthy again.

Thanks,

Joe A

[Paul Agaliotis]

Joe,
We used to run the Armor Coated props at the flight school. I think we were getting them from Univair at $90 bucks apiece. They worked just fine, but, as you noted the covering starts to crack when exposed to the elements. Once the covering started to seperate we just peeled the plastic off and varnished the wood. It has laminations of 1/8" and worked just fine without the plastic covering.
I don't know what Carol is asking but if the plastic is solid I would run it. Make sure you have a 8 hole crankshaft.
Paul
I went back and looked at the original post and saw the price. The crack you see is actually the edge of the tipping material. I don't remember the plastic being under the tipping.

[joea]

Paul,

Thanks much for the info. Have never talked with anyone who has used these, or who has used them without the "armor coating" removed and just varnished.

These are the two areas that I am concerned about. Do not believe that these follow the metal tipping. The top photo of these two might be along the metal but the bottom am almost positive that its not.

Joe

[Paul Agaliotis]

Joe,
I still suspect it's the tipping. Flottorp tipping is about a 1 in. strip on the face and the back and crushed together at the tip. It's not like the sweeping brass that most wood props have.
Paul

[joea]

Paul,

Can you pls look here: http://www.joea.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=4070

Wanted to ask a basic question about props but wanted to keep this thread about the Flottorp prop and not get the thread running in several different directions.

Thx,

Joe A