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Old September 3rd 10, 01:20 PM posted to rec.aviation.military,rec.aviation.military.naval
Ken S. Tucker
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Posts: 442
Default Push-Pull propeller combinations.

On Sep 2, 7:08 am, Eunometic wrote:
Several aircraft have been built with both a pull (or tractor)
propeller and a push (or rear) propeller aligned with each other.

Supposedly the arrangment is inefficient, yet the some of the Dornier
aircraft were record breakers.

Given that some aircraft were ruined or delayed by the problem of
combining gearboxes (He 177, Northrop XB-35 and if it ever came to it
the B-29 with its backup V-3420) it looks like an attractive
proposition.

What's going on here?


Overall the Puller-Pusher is complicated.
1) the Pusher needs serious clearance for landing and takeoff.
2) if it's a twin engine, a strong structure is required to connect
the engines, (wing based twins use the existing spar).
3) a single engine P-P needs a long horizontal shaft.
4) the inertial moment is greater if a passenger bay is between
the engines.
5) there is an unpredictable airstream for the Pusher.
....and more.
Ken

List of such aircraft:

Cessna 337 Skymaster
Rutan Model 76 Vogager
Adam A500

Dornier Wal
Dornier Do X
Dornier Do 18 Seaplane, the German PPY Catalina.
Dornier Do 26K Seaplane, possibly the longer ranged seaplane ever
built.
Dornier Do 335 Pfeil (arrow) perhaps one of the fastest piston
engined aircraft ever built.
Dornier Seawings Seastar, modern Seaplane of composites.

Savoia-Marchetti S.55
LeO H-242