Dowty props to become rocking horse poo.

[mad_jock]

BBC News - Dowty fire: Gloucestershire factory 'severely damaged' (http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-31144128)

Just for info for the ginger beer types.

[Alber Ratman]

Not just Herc J's. A couple of civvy types going to be hit too. It was their composite propeller production facility. My night stopper uses props from that factory.. :(

[Mighty Quercus]

This could become a bigger story, if Dowty don't recover prop production soon. J props and rocking horse s...t spring to mind

[mad_jock]

Q400's use them as well.

What do the A400's use?

[Stuff]

Q400 doesn't refer to the Dash 8 engine type, the number refers to the airframe stretch. Dash 8 uses a Pratt & Whitney engine with GE (Dowty) props.

A400m uses Hamilton Sundstrand props which are not affected by this fire.

[mad_jock]

So it all the dash 8 variations?

Even bigger ouch

[Stuff]

I *think* it's only the PW150A engine on the Q400 that's mated to the Dowty props, other Dash 8's use different types. However, there's plenty of other types that will be affected. Regional airliners - Dowty Propellers (http://dowty.com/products/regional-airliners/)

I feel for the workers that will be affected by this fire. Doesn't look like there's much left of the factory :(

[Pontius Navigator]

What about historics? Where do Spitfire props and the like come from?

[Mike51]

Nowadays Spitfire propellers come from Germany, believe it or not. Now there's irony for you!

[Vendee]

I did my Fokker 50 prop repair and maintenance course there in the late 90's. Watching the huge machine "knitting" carbon fibre blades was an amazing sight. http://www.bfcarter.co.uk/images/prop_braider2.jpg

[billynospares]

Saab 2000 and quite a few others use their props I believe.

[ian16th]

The BBC site says:

The Dowty Propellers site in Staverton - which employs 250 workers - is separate to the Messier-Bugatti-Dowty factory nearby which designs and manufactures landing gear for aircraft.But the picture looks like the Dowty-Rotol factory that I used to have as a customer circa 1971-3. They were making undercarriage parts for Harriers at the time. Anyone know what parts of the business moved?

[pr00ne]

ian16th,

It was all Dowty Rotol then. Dowty Propellors are on the industrial site that lies on the perimeter of Staverton airfield, and part of GE Aerospace. The much larger factory site down the road and on the opposite side of the road to the airfield, the old Dowty Rotol main site, is now the Messier Buggati Dowty undercarriage factory.

[Always a Sapper]

Are they the sole manufacture for the C130J Props, incl the US or do they just have the UK/Europe market?

If they are, and thats their only factory then it's a bit 'all yer eggs in one basket' type thing for the C130J operators.

I do however wish all the best for the staff involved, I'm sure they will be doing everything to get back up and running again

[pr00ne]

Always a Sapper,

Dowty propellors are sole source designers and manufacturers of the C130J propellor blades and spinner. They also do 3rd and 4th line support, so I reckon some internal disaster recovery plans are being dusted off and actioned right now.

[Exvacert]

A400m uses Ratier-figeac propellor

[ian16th]

pr00ne

Thanks

[Hangarshuffle]

Was it industrial sabotage? Arson? How were they doing commercially?Factory looked relatively dated, and now looks like a total right-off.