Propeller plane builds: warbirds, bush planes and pioneers

From the Blériot XI and the Spirit of St. Louis to the Spitfire, P-51 Mustang and Zero, these Technic-style propeller planes have a propeller that spins freely on its own axle when you blow on it or turn it with a finger.

Start with Bf 109 (Germany) for free

Aircraft building guides

Choose a first aircraft, find its balance point, make a propeller spin freely, and run a fair ramp test with your jets and airliners.

Complete MightyCog booklet collection: 136 PDF booklets for $12.99. Instructions only; individual booklets remain free.

Explore the printable pack

Before you start: Spin the propeller and count how many turns it makes before it stops, then check that its bushes are snug but not tight.

14 builds, easiest first

  1. ✈️ Bf 109 (Germany): The narrow German fighter with square wingtips, a yellow nose and a big propeller. (level 2 of 5, about 35 minutes, 22 steps)
  2. ✈️ Spitfire (United Kingdom): The famous British fighter with the curvy wings, built from Technic beams and a spinning four-blade propeller. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 25 steps)
  3. ✈️ Fokker Dr.I (Germany): The bright red three-winged plane of the "Red Baron" from the First World War. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 25 steps)
  4. ✈️ Zero (Japan): The long-winged Japanese fighter with a black nose and big red circles on its wings. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 25 steps)
  5. ✈️ Beaver (Canada): The Canadian bush plane with its wing on top, ready to reach lakes and forests far from any road. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 25 steps)
  6. ✈️ P-51 Mustang (United States): The shiny silver American fighter with a big four-blade propeller and a bubble canopy. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 25 steps)
  7. ✈️ Sopwith Camel (United Kingdom): The famous British First World War biplane, with two wings stacked one above the other. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 25 steps)
  8. ✈️ Super Tucano (Brazil): A Brazilian turboprop with a long nose, a two-seat canopy and a fast four-blade propeller. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 23 steps)
  9. ✈️ Boomerang (Australia): A short, tough little Australian fighter in green and brown camouflage. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 22 steps)
  10. ✈️ PC-12 (Switzerland): A white-and-red Swiss single-engine plane with long straight wings and a busy four-blade propeller. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 25 steps)
  11. ✈️ M-18 Dromader (Poland): A big, bright yellow Polish crop-dusting and firefighting plane with long wings. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 25 steps)
  12. ✈️ Vinka (Finland): A small Finnish trainer plane in white with blue stripes, like the flag of Finland. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 23 steps)
  13. ✈️ Spirit of St. Louis (United States): The silver high-wing plane that flew across the Atlantic alone in 1927, with no front window at all. (level 3 of 5, about 45 minutes, 26 steps)
  14. ✈️ Blériot XI (France): The wood-and-cloth monoplane that first flew across the English Channel in 1909. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 24 steps)

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