Abstract: An axial blower has a blower motor and a blower wheel. The blower motor includes a motor shaft; a motor housing; a front and a rear bearing cover attached to the motor housing; ventilating openings provided in the front bearing cover; and air outlet openings provided in the rear bearing cover. The blower wheel includes a hollow hub surrounding the rear side of the motor housing; a plurality of impellers affixed to the exterior of the hub and projecting therefrom; a plurality of vane-like ribs carried by the hub at the interior thereof for generating a cooling air stream flowing between the hub and the motor housing; a bell-shaped part forming an axial continuation of the hub and surrounding the front side of the motor housing, a bottom portion, a central opening in the bottom portion and a plurality of ventilating openings provided in the bottom portion. The ventilating openings are arranged in a circular array concentrically with the central opening.