Hastings spinners
This was always a bit of a mystery, as throughout the Hastings' life spinners seemed to come and go for no apparent reason. I vaguely recall that in the very early days they carried fans as well, although the blades were soon removed never to return.
Whether with or without the fan, or removed entirely, there seemed to be no discernible effect on performance or engine temperatures either. For much of its life the majority of the fleet was spinner-less although a few kept them; the Mk IV my crew and I operated from Changi in the early 1950s was one, retaining them for our entire 2 1/2 year tour.
The aircraft certainly looked better with them fitted, their removal exposing a rather ugly metal disc that looked rather like an enlarged colander.