Question for the history buffs
 

Whilst looking at the beautiful aircraft models in the hangar, i began to wonder... Why did the germans paint that black and white spiral on the propeller hub of so many of their planes? Surely there's a reason beyond 'It looks cool when its spinning'?

Supposed to be a physiological effect on the pilots. Kinda like in WW1 when they tried that design on the sides of ships, to throw off the U-boats. (can't think of the name at the moment.)

EDIT: DAZZLE!!! That's what I was thinking of. Dazzle. ;)

http://www.designporn.ca/wp/wp-conte...azzle-camo.jpg

Lozenge? I thought that was just camo, to break up the outline of the ship? If you look close at the ships in BoP, they have that paint scheme.

edit: just looked up Dazzle. It was used to make it harder to determine the ship's heading and speed.

German pilots believed that it would throw off the aim of anti-aircraft gunners. (From Luftwaffe Aces by Franz Kurowski)

It makes judging distance harder for the enemy gunners.

It is for ground crew to tell if the prop is spinning, so you don't approach the aircraft until it has completely stopped.

Modern aircraft still have it

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...400_Engine.JPG

http://i3.tinypic.com/vskmrn.jpg

http://www.alienresistance.net/STW/Photos/757engine.jpg

http://www.worldofstock.com/slides/FUS1456.jpg

Yeah, it shows that the propeller is spinning....

I dont think that a spiral on the little hub in front of the propeller will throw off the enemies aim...no offence, but it seems useless.

It was useless.

It was used to scare the Birds away from the..... errrr Thingy ma jingy

They were actually go faster stripes to make the enemy pilots think the propellor wasn't spinning, but they also had the side effect of making all the bullets explosive and the plane a jet. Also the spirals meant it had unlimited ammo

Amazing what a spiral can do

it really is impressive. I cant wait until I get my own plane so can paint it on. And then i just need to figure out how to mount a makeshift gun so i can get infinite ammo.
technology... amazing

So ... it would appear that no one has a definitive answer? And i thought getting answers on paint schemes of WW1 planes was hard...

It's a simple answer really: Physiological Affect.

i thought it was to make enemy pilots eyes go weird or even hypnotise them (2nd 1 is a joke)

So what physiological affect does this have on ground staff in modern airports? lol

It is there so you can see it is spinning. It was often painted big and bright on german WWII planes because it looked good, like nose art. I don't think the germans ever used the usual coloured propeller tip method.

Yes there is, I gave it to you. It is simply to see that the prop is spinning. The answers saying it was to put off enemy gunners, make it hard to distinguish range or a dazzle effect are a load of rubbish.

Think about it, how would anyone see it on an aircraft approaching at 350mph, it's just so the ground crew don't walk into a spinning prop.

Yes. People have given a definitive answer. It's so people can see that the propelloor is spinning. How could it be a psychological effect, people will hardly be flying at each other, certainly not long enough to notice that

And let's not forget, it does look pretty cool, too.:cool:

It was a joke. I have no idea how it would work for a physiological affect?

Airports/Airfields = Lots of noise and stress going on, easy to get hurt if you're not cautious...

Its to distract birds and warn personnel that the engine is on (the prop tips are there to warn you the outter edge of the props)....to the people saying "they would hear it". The simple answer is: they are wearing very good ear protection and sometimes there are more then one engines on or planes moving around in the area.

(Bird: ) Hey, a big metal thing is coming my way, let's get out of here! Oh wait... look at that spirally thing in the middle... can't.....get.....my...... eyes off of it..... too distracted..... to evade *splash*

Morale: I think it didn't have a lot to do with birds