# Tri-motors & prop directions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tri-motors-prop-directions/276963>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 28, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tri-motors-prop-directions/276963 "2004-11-28T05:31:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rippingtons\_fan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rippingtons_fan/32/11767_2.png) [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tri-motors-prop-directions/276963/1 "2004-11-28T05:31:21Z")

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On 3-engined prop aircraft like the Ford Trimotor and the Junkers Ju-52, did all three props turn in the same direction?

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**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tri-motors-prop-directions/276963/2 "2004-11-28T05:41:20Z")

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Yep, clockwise, as seen from the cockpit.

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tri-motors-prop-directions/276963/3 "2004-11-28T05:46:37Z")

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See[here](http://www.junkers.de.vu/) for details.

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**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tri-motors-prop-directions/276963/4 "2004-11-28T05:56:11Z")

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English engines turned CCW as seen from cockpit.

Would have to check if all German engines were CW.

P-38 had CR engines as did the Piper Senaca. Just that the P-28 was ( down blade outside while the PA-34 id down blade inside) see picture on this page. You can see that they are CR ( counter rotation )

[http://www.flybernhard.de/ueb\_eng.htm?http://www.flybernhard.de/pa34\_e.htm](http://www.flybernhard.de/ueb_eng.htm?http://www.flybernhard.de/pa34_e.htm)

ME-109 seems to have been CW from cockpit judging by these pics.

Also, the last flying example of this tri-2ngine aircraft crased on takeoff from TUL. Real rare bird.

[http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/outdoor/od15.htm](http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/outdoor/od15.htm)

[http://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com/Aircraft/Me-109/Page1.html](http://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com/Aircraft/Me-109/Page1.html)

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**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tri-motors-prop-directions/276963/5 "2004-11-28T05:58:43Z")

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Yes, I fly better than I spell and type. 😃

P-38  
tri-engine  
crashed  
etc…

::::: sheesh ::::

\*::: preview is my friend ::: \*

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**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tri-motors-prop-directions/276963/6 "2004-11-28T06:12:46Z")

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> [@GusNSpot](#):
>
> English engines turned CCW as seen from cockpit.

Correction: _English_ engines turn ACW (anti-clockwise)!