It is argued that there should be an agreement as to what conventions to use in determining absolute coefficients used in aeronautics and in how to plot those coefficients. Of particular importance are the absolute coefficients of lift and drag. The author argues for the use of the German method over the kind in common use in the United States and England, and for the Continental over the usual American and British method of graphically representing the characteristics of an airfoil.

The authors argue that the center of gravity has a preponderating influence on the longitudinal stability of an airplane in flight, but that manufacturers, although aware of this influence, are still content to apply empirical rules to the balancing of their airplanes instead of conducting wind tunnel tests. The author examines the following points: 1) longitudinal stability, in flight, of a glider with coinciding centers; 2) the influence exercised on the stability of flight by the position of the axis of thrust with respect to the center of gravity and the whole of the glider; 3) the stability on the ground before taking off, and the influence of the position of the landing gear. 4) the influence of the elements of the glider on the balance, the possibility of sometimes correcting defective balance, and the valuable information given on this point by wind tunnel tests; 5) and a brief examination of the equilibrium of power in horizontal flight, where the conditions of stability peculiar to this kind of flight are added to previously existing conditions of the stability of the glider, and interfere in fixing the safety limits of certain evolutions.

From Summary: "The author, who was a captain of the Reserves in the Technical Department of the Aviation Division (Board of Airplane Experts) during the war, shows what means were taken for the creation of new airplane types and what tests were employed for trying out their flying properties, capacities and structural reliability. The principal representative types of each of the classes of airplanes are described and the characteristics of the important structural parts are discussed. Data regarding the number of airplanes at the front and the flying efficiency of the various classes of airplanes are given."

Thin metal diaphragms form a satisfactory means for comparing maximum pressures in internal combustion engines. The diaphragm is clamped between two metal washers in a spark plug shell and its thickness is chosen such that, when subjected to explosion pressure, the exposed portion will be sheared from the rim in a short time.

From Summary: "This report contains the derivation of a series of relations between temperature, pressure, density, and altitude in a standard atmosphere which assumes a uniform decrease of temperature with altitude. The equations are collected and given with proper constants in both metric and English units for the temperature gradient adopted by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. A table of values of temperature pressure and density at various altitudes in this standard atmosphere is included in the report."

From Summary: "The aeronautical engineer often has occasion to estimate the absolute ceiling of an airplane for which a detailed performance calculation is out of the question. In such cases it is customary to use either empirical performance charts or formulae. The performance charts given in several of the recent works on aeronautics are satisfactory so long as the airplane under consideration does not depart too far from the average in its characteristics. The formulae, with one exception, are no better. Given here is that exception, with indications of which terms of the formula may be neglected without seriously affecting the results, thus simplifying the task."

Report presenting information regarding the use of slots in an airplane wing to considerably increase the lift and make it possible to operate the wing at higher angles of attack.

Note presenting a number of instruments that can assist pilots with observing the position of the airplane. Some of the instruments include an inclinometer with stationary system of reference and an inclinometer with moving axes.

Report presenting an example of a heavily staggered biplane with a single rigid outer strut in order to help determine the influence of the initial tensions in the wing bracing on the stressing of airplane parts.

Note presenting a study of the improvement of the performance of airfoils by abrupt changes in contour.

"Recent data have shown that certain forms or types of ailerons that are in extensive use are in reality quite inefficient and entirely unsuited for the high speeds now realized. The same data indicate that two forms (both shown here) are efficient and satisfactory in every way. The most important characteristics of ailerons are effectiveness under all flight conditions, small moments about the hinge, high efficiency (small yawing moment opposing turn), and simplicity in construction. Information required for the design of ailerons is given for chord, span, area, and plan form" (p. 1).

"The effect of an aileron displacement on the distribution of the lift along the span is computed for an elliptic wing of aspect ratio 6 for three conditions. The lift distribution caused by the aileron displacement is uniform and extends normally beyond the inner end of the ailerons. Hence, the displacement of an aileron with constant chord length may bring about passing the stalling point of the adjacent wing sections, if these were near this point before" (p. 1).

"This note, prepared for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, contains a discussion of the pressure distribution over ellipsoids when in translatory motion through a perfect fluid. An easy and convenient way to determine the magnitude of the velocity and of the pressure at each point of the surface of an ellipsoid of rotation is described. The knowledge of such pressure distribution is of great practical value for the airship designer" (p. 1).

Following a curved path increases the distance to be flown, and a type of radio navigation that forces the adoption of such a path is therefore less efficient than one that marks out a definite straight line between the point of departure and the intended destination, and holds the airplane to that line. To determine the loss of efficiency resulting from curvature of the path, calculations were made for two particular cases by the method of step-by-step integration. The calculations were based on the assumption that the pilot makes straightforward use of his radio for navigation and makes no allowance for drift.

The NACA CYH airfoil section is described and its aerodynamic characteristics are given as tested in the NACA variable density wind tunnel at twenty atmosphere pressure. This section has a low drag, a high maximum lift, and a small travel of center of pressure.

"The object of this report, the last of a series of four on propeller design, is to describe a simple method for determining whether the strength of a propeller of a standard form is sufficient for safe operation. An approximate method of stress analysis is also given" (p. 1).

"The employment of steam power plants in aircraft has been frequently proposed. Arguments pro and con have appeared in many journals. It is the purpose of this paper to make a brief analysis of the proposal from the broad general viewpoint of aircraft power plants. Any such analysis may be general or detailed" (p. 1).

"Biplane cellules using the N.A.C.A.-M6 airfoil section have been tested in the variable density wind tunnel of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Three cellules, differing only in the amount of stagger, were tested at two air densities, corresponding to pressures of one atmosphere and of twenty atmospheres. The range of angle of attack was from -2 degrees to +48 degrees. The effect of stagger on the lift and drag, and on the shielding effect of the upper wing by the lower at high angles of attack was determined" (p. 1).

A brief description is given of different groups of high chromium steels (rustless iron and stainless steels) according to their composition and more generally accepted names. The welding procedure for a given group will be much the same regardless of the slight variations in chemical composition which may exist within a certain group. Information is given for the tensile properties (yield point and ultimate strength) of metal sheets and welds before and after annealing on coupons one and one-half inches wide.

Note presenting tests using a multicylinder engine to determine the effect that atmospheric humidity has on some phases of engine performance. Three test series with different types of fuel were carried out. The results indicate that failure to allow for the effect of differences in atmospheric humidity may introduce errors as great as would be occasioned by failure to allow for changes in barometric pressure.

Measurements were made in the variable density wind tunnel to determine the pressure distribution over one section of a R.A.F. 31 airfoil with a leading edge slot fully open. To provide data for the study of scale effect on this type of airfoil, the tests were conducted with air densities of approximately one and twenty atmospheres.

Note presenting a systematic study of the strength of duralumin and chrome-molybdenum steel round tubing in combined transverse and axial loading. A description of the formulas that are the groundwork for the study as well as the results of the tests are provided.

"Tests on a Friez type cup anemometer have been made in the variable density wind tunnel of the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory to calibrate the instrument and to determine its suitability for velocity measurements of wind gusts. The instrument was calibrated against a Pitot-static tube placed directly above the anemometer at air densities corresponding to sea level, and to an altitude of approximately 6000 feet. Air-speed acceleration tests were made to determine the lag in the instrument reading. The calibration results indicate that there should be an altitude correction. It is concluded that the cup anemometer is too sluggish for velocity measurements of wind gusts" (p. 1).

A large number of tests were made on tubes of 1025 and 4130X steel, in various diameters and wall thicknesses, and after diverse heat treatments. The Rockwell B scale was employed, as being the best suited to the ranges of hardness encountered. Only satisfactory chrome molybdenum tubes were found to show a hardness in excess of 90-B after normalizing.