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