Wright Brothers Propeller, fixed-pitch, two-blade, wood

The Wright Brothers constructed the world's first practical fixed-pitch propeller and developed the aerodynamic theory to calculate its performance during the process of creating their historic 1903 Flyer. Conceptualizing the propeller as a rotating, twisted wing moving in a helical path, the brothers used airfoil data calculated from their wind tunnel to design blades able to convert energy from their small engine into thrust.Believing that "the propeller should in every case be designed to meet the particular conditions of the machine to which it is applied," Wrights built their propeller for one specific performance regime. Using a drawknife and hatchets, they shaped the propellers from two-ply spruce, covered them in linen, and sealed them with aluminum powder suspended in varnish. Overall, these two propellers produced 66 percent efficiency, enough to get off the ground at Kitty Hawk.This original propeller was used on the 1903 Wright Flyer on December 17, 1903 during its first flight.