Pilots use a clever trick to keep damaged planes in the air

Published 10:40 am Friday, April 24, 2015

Aircraft with variable pitch propellers can “feather” their props if needed. The term comes from rowing, when you can turn the blade of your oar so that it cuts through the water with the least resistance. The propeller is similar; a pilot can rotate the blades of the dead prop so that they are parallel to the airflow. This allows single engine planes to glide farther and multi-engine aircraft, like this battered B-24 Liberator, to continue to soldier on even after being damaged.