Levasseur Brevette, Lublin R XXI, France

Description

Producer (type): Pierre Levasseur, France
Propeller No.: SERIE 1597 N ?E(?)RO 37426
Production Date: 1933
Pitch: ????
Diameter: 2550 mm
Engine: Wright 200 HP
Country of Origin: France
Used on:
LUBLIN R XXI - unknown design of E.Plage & T.Laśkiewicz company.

About the propeller. Manufactured by the French company Pierre Levasseur (PL) the propeller was ordered by Polish company Plage – Laśkiewicz. Co-operation between both companies is undoubtful and well documented – in 1933/34 Plage – Laśkiewicz ordered also props for another prototype – Lublin R XX . Most likely the propeller was not used or barely used. For sure it is a part of unrevealed Polish  aviation history. Propeller found in Abramów near Lublin,  renovated after unsuccesful attemt of converting to the electric generating windmill. Part of Private collection (2021). Saved after unsuccessful attempt of converting to a windmill fan of electric generator.

Construction.  The propeller lamination consists of 9 ash plies. Propeller coated by Tonkilaque. The outboard 780 mm (approx) of leading edge has aluminum sheathing.

Aircraft and Engine. The propeller was most likely designed to be powered by 9-cylinder radial engine WRIGHT WHIRLWIND J58 220 HP (not 200). Such an engine was produced by Skoda factory at Okęcie, Warsaw.
Engine Data:
Cubic Capacity …………. ca 12,9 l
Weight ……………………. ca 227 (236) Kg
Compression Ratio …… 5,4Specific consumption… 50 l/h.

The aircraft for which the propeller was destined for is unclear. Lublin R XXI prop dated 10 luty 1933 is well established among the other projects of Plage Laśkiewicz:
LUBLIN R XIX (1931) – prototype fitted with Rudlicki stabilizer (V tail).
LUBLIN R XX – a plane on the floats, with origins dating back to 19.04.1932.
LUBLIN R XXII – a plane for which initial information appears on January 1934.

The only information which can be obtain about Lublina RXXI is a brief A. Morgała, info:
„…Designed in 1934r. aircraft Lublin R-XXI was a developed derivative of Lublin R-XIII. The engine was different than the one used in predecessor: PZL G-1620B Mors II of 316 kW (430 HP) power. Similar to Lublin R-XXIII, it was featured with wheel fairings and Townend cowling of the engine. The prototype was not built finally, left as a paper design”

The major discrepancy concers the engine used and the engine’s power – the propeller adjusted to the approximetly double power had to be bigger. The second discrepancy concers the date: the tender for reconnaisence aircraft was announced in 1934. Therfore it is fairly possible that designation R XXI was used twice for different projects.

References:

  1. Przemysł Lotniczy w Lublinie 1919 – 1939, Mariusz Wojciech Majewski, Wydawnictwo ZP 2009.
  2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wright_J-5_Whirlwind.jpg

Period Advert. Polish Skoda Factory, ca1937. WRIGHT 220 HP engine is among the offer.

Plage & Laśkiewicz LOGO.

Period Advert. Skoda.