Lawn mower type airplane propeller? Anyone know about this? [View All]

[HamdenRice]

About 7-8 years ago, I was researching gas powered model airplanes as a gift for a friend's son.

I came across some interesting sites about experimental plane models. One was an airplane with experimental type propeller. I think it was a university based program.

The propeller was bizarre but amazing. It was set of long blades sent in a open faced cylindrical mounting across the leading edge of the wing.

It looked exactly like the blade of an old fashioned, un-motorized reel-type lawnmower. In fact, iirc, the experimental propeller was called a "lawn mower" propeller. There was great video of the thing actually flying, and an explanation of how it created thrust.

I've tried to find that airplane and propeller design on the web again but never have been successful. One of the reasons is that as a sort of joke, some model airplane builders have created a flying lawnmower, and that generally comes up in google searches rather than this experimental craft.

Does anyone know about this experimental propeller and air craft design?