1937 Abrams P1 Explorer surveillance aircraft - photo

[Altair]

1937 Abrams P1 Explorer surveillance aircraft with rear engine placement to keep the camera apertures clean and reduce cockpit noise.




Previously:

WWII Short Shetland reconnaissance flying boat - photo
Supermarine Walrus amphibious reconnaissance aircraft - photo
WW2 Blohm and Voss BV 141 reconnaissance aircraft - photo
Sukhoi T-4 reconnaissance bomber aircraft - photo
Giant Kodak K-24 aerial aerial reconnaissance camera - photo

[Toolmaker51]

Rear engine, with airborne version of Kort Nozzle (ducted propellor), seems logical approach to reducing prop noise. Fits right in era these gained traction for nautical applications.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducted_propellor
and/ or
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducted_fan

[bruce.desertrat]

Rear engine, with airborne version of Kort Nozzle (ducted propellor), seems logical approach to reducing prop noise. Fits right in era these gained traction for nautical applications.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducted_propellor
and/ or
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducted_fan

This is just an artifact of the photography. A photo of it parked clearly shows that that is just a shroud around the cylinders of the radial engine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrams...140188595).jpg

[Hans Pearson]

The front end of this aircraft was copied
and used on the Sikorsky H-5 Helicopter some 6 years later.

[Floradawg]

Rear engine, with airborne version of Kort Nozzle (ducted propellor), seems logical approach to reducing prop noise. Fits right in era these gained traction for nautical applications.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducted_propellor
and/ or
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducted_fan

Ducted fans are used on IC engine powered model jets to make them look authentic.

[Toolmaker51]

This is just an artifact of the photography. A photo of it parked clearly shows that that is just a shroud around the cylinders of the radial engine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrams...140188595).jpg

Terrific article, Bruce, amplifies this post. Shrouded the cylinders probably aided cooling, many (most) have airfoil cross sections, IIRC early biplanes so-equipped.