On the stern of some paddle-wheelers are the paddles. One I've been on had
its paddle-wheels run by pumps. Pump line ran out of the engine room and
terminated in a smallish box next to/attached to the wheel's axle.

Would that idea work for aircraft. Pump driven prop?

One advantage would be aerodynamic streamlining of the cowl. The nose of the
plane could be almost bullet shaped ...engine might be mid plane - anywhere
really. Engine's prop shaft no longer an issue.


Montblack