PB2Y Coronado wreck-Different Propellers
 

An interesting picture showing what looks like the hulk of a PB2Y Coronado flying boat,somewhere in the Pacific. It's a poor photograph but shows two engines on the left side, one engine with a three bladed prop and the other with what looks to be a four blade propeller.

Was it common to mix three bladed and four bladed propellers?

Re: PB2Y Coronado wreck-Different Propellers
 

Bump

Re: PB2Y Coronado wreck-Different Propellers
 

Not common but not unheard either. E.g. Bv 138C had four bladed propeller on its central engine and three bladed on its wing engines.

Re: PB2Y Coronado wreck-Different Propellers
 

Some Merlin Halifaxes had three-bladed inboard and four-bladed outer, generally older aircraft in use in the Heavy Conversion Units. I think it would be very odd to see an asymmetric installation, which surely would only be for emergency or other temporary purposes.

Bearing in mind that one DC-3 actually flew, if briefly but safely, with a DC-2 wing on one side, it's best never to say never.

Re: PB2Y Coronado wreck-Different Propellers
 

A quick online search brought up these examples:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...ASM_Hughes.jpg

http://www.bluejacket.com/usn/images...e-is_feb45.JPG

http://www.stinsonflyer.com/consolac/pb2y-4.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...Y-3_parked.jpg

So no, not unheard of...

Simon

Re: PB2Y Coronado wreck-Different Propellers
 

After trials with the XPB2Y-1 prototype revealed some stability issues, the design was finalized as the PB2Y-2, with a large cantilever wing, twin tail with very marked dihedral, and four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial engines. The two inner engines were fitted with four-bladed reversible pitch propellers; the outer engines had standard three-bladed feathering props.

Wiki

Re: PB2Y Coronado wreck-Different Propellers
 

Thanks Kustcha, that seems to be the answer.