This Week in Aviation History: May 26th

Hamilton Standard Propeller Company is awarded the Collier trophy for that year’s outstanding achievement in aviation for their development of the controllable-pitch propeller.

May 29, 1934

The Collier trophy is an annual award administered by the U.S. National Aeronautics Association (NAA) to those who have made “the greatest achievement n aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicle, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year.” Past recipients, before and after Hamilton Standard Propeller Company receiving it, include Orville Wright (1913), Howard Hughes (1938), Chuck Yeager (1947) and the crew of spaceship Apollo 11 (1969).

Hamilton Standard’s controllable pitch propeller, or variable pitch propeller, is specially made with blades that can rotate around their long axis to change their pitch, allowing for maneuvers like reverse thrust for braking of going backwards. The ability to shift propeller thrust levels and air pressure prevent aircraft engines from stalling or overturning.

This Week in Aviation History

5/26/08

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