Aircraft Engine and Propeller [J-5A-B Whirlwind and Hamilton Propeller from 'Southern Cross']
Maker and role
Wright Aeronautical Corporation, Manufacturer
Hamilton Standard Propellers, Manufacturer
Production date
16 Feb 1928
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
1964.197
Production period
Description
Wright J-5A-B Whirlwind, 9-Cylinder single-row radial piston engine, air-cooled; 200hp; Displacement 12.9L.
Crankcase painted blue and cylinders black, together with metal three-bladed Hamilton propeller. Mounted on tubular and wooden base.
As fitted to Fokker Trimotor monoplane “Southern Cross” VH-USU flown by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.
Crankcase painted blue and cylinders black, together with metal three-bladed Hamilton propeller. Mounted on tubular and wooden base.
As fitted to Fokker Trimotor monoplane “Southern Cross” VH-USU flown by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.
Brief History
Wright Whirlwind engine from the ‘Southern Cross’. This is one of three engines from the ‘Southern Cross’. The ‘Southern Cross’ was the first aircraft to cross the Tasman Sea and made many other record-breaking flights, including a round the world flight completed in 1930.
The three-bladed Hamilton propeller affixed to this engine was originally on the ‘Southern Cross’s' centre engine. Its other two engines had wooden propellers.
The ‘Southern Cross’ was built in 1925. A Fokker FVIIb-3m monoplane, it was fitted with the latest Wright Whirlwind engines in 1928 for an attempt that Kingsford Smith was planning to make on the world endurance record. He failed in his attempt to break the record, but the aircraft went on to make the first east to west crossing of the Pacific Ocean in June 1928. Later that same year the aircraft made the first trans-Tasman flight, between Australia and New Zealand.
The three-bladed Hamilton propeller affixed to this engine was originally on the ‘Southern Cross’s' centre engine. Its other two engines had wooden propellers.
The ‘Southern Cross’ was built in 1925. A Fokker FVIIb-3m monoplane, it was fitted with the latest Wright Whirlwind engines in 1928 for an attempt that Kingsford Smith was planning to make on the world endurance record. He failed in his attempt to break the record, but the aircraft went on to make the first east to west crossing of the Pacific Ocean in June 1928. Later that same year the aircraft made the first trans-Tasman flight, between Australia and New Zealand.
Marks
J-5 A-B / WRIGHT WHIRLWIND / ... / DATE 2.16.28 / ... / WRIGHT AERONAUTICAL CORP. / PATERSON, NEW JERSEY Maker's Plate
Media/Materials
Collection
Credit Line
Wright Aeronautical Corporation et al. 16 Feb 1928. Aircraft Engine and Propeller [J-5A-B Whirlwind and Hamilton Propeller from 'Southern Cross'], 1964.197. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
On display?
On display
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