Factory Tour: Whirlwind Propellers

KITPLANES tours the Whirlwind Propeller factory in San Diego, California, where the firm's fixed-pitch and ground-adjustable propellers are made, as well as the blades for Whirlwind Aviation's constant-speed props. Join us as owner Jim Rust leads the tour.

[@airste172]

Don't you just love it when they take you on a tour to show you how something is made, then they don't show you anything being made while telling you that some parts of the process are a secret.

[@robertphillips3078]

Thats standard procedure in plenty of manufacturing. They have spent yrs nutting things out . U & there competition can do the research your selves

[@davidnee6157]

Molding a part, doesn't matter what your making is the same. The process might be a little different, just depends on what your making.
Here, just like most molds, you have two halfs, an upper and a lower half, lengthwise. These 2 halfs come together to make the outside shape of the prop. The finished props are hollow so how is the carbon fiber fabric stay up against the inside of the mold walls?
Here come the "magic secret">>>drum roll please>>>> AIR Pressure and Heat! Go back and look @ the video again, @ 3:50, you can see the yellow air line going into the mold. They are trying to hide this with a glove or rag ,but its not a secret, Manufacturing has been doing this for many many years. As a machinist for over 30 years , 17 of them a mold maker, my hat off to the guys that make the molds. These are difficult molds to produce and expensive!
"And now you know the rest of the story"

[@Peterneuh]

Very interresting!

[@Musiqa21]

How can you sale your prop by online

[@Flightstar]

Ohh common show us the super duper secret electo suppository nickle thingomiJiggy I think I can speak for all on here, we can keep it a secret!

[@electoplater]

not a big secret you get a mould then electroplate it remove from mould done

[@마-d9o]

👍

[@sucher22]

Two thumbs down.