Report presenting some topics related to safety in flight and the importance of having accurate statistics and information regarding aircraft problems and accidents. Some of the topics provided included perverted statistics, the British accident record, unregulated air traffic in America, and air mail in bad weather.

The difference between aircraft for commercial and wartime uses is delineated, but the interchangability between the two is also discussed. Airships in both roles are also presented.

The development of the parachute is presented as well as the future possibilities. The primary topics covered include allowing for wind in design, the parachutes used at balloon exhibitions, parachute use in the war, the delayed-opening type of parachute, and the use of parachutes on commercial airplanes.

This report presents a study of an instrument that can warn the pilot of the turning of his airplane. This instrument must satisfy three conditions: 1) It must give useful indication immediately from take-off; 2) The indications must be instantaneous and require no exertion by the pilot; 3) The indicator must be sensitive only to changes of orientation in the horizontal plane. Different solutions are presented such as a gyroscope driven by the suction of a Venturi tube.

"A transverse test was made of the wood sample using a 5,000 pound Olsen testing machine, the deflection under load being measured by means of a Wissler dial. The results of the transverse test are given and the stress-strain curve is attached" (p. 1).

Different aspects of aircraft regulation are discussed such as: protecting the public; the restriction of flights over crowds; regulations of wing-walkers.

This report presents examples of different methods of comparing aircraft mathematically. In the example given a biplane and monoplane are compared as to what speed one type of airplane is better at than another.

"The Coutinho-Sacadura course corrector is an instrument with which, knowing the angles of drift of two different courses, we may determine by simple readings: a) direction and velocity of wind; b) correction to be made in course followed by compass, in order to fly in a given direction; c) ground-speed of aircraft, the resultant of its air speed and the velocity of the wind" (p. 1).

Different illumination systems for landing fields are presented which include fixed beacons, signal guns, and light patterns such as T's and crosses. Some of the advantages and disadvantages for each of the lighting patterns are provided.

The wing strain meter enables a pilot to know the strain on lifting surfaces and to warn him of the safe limits which may not be exceeded. In wing strain the most important factors are the force of gravity and the force of lift which gives the measure of the sustaining force, and their components which are perpendicular to the lifting surfaces. This reports methods for using the wing strain meter.

Tests were conducted to determine whether or not a properly located and properly designed oil scraper piston ring, installed on a piston provided with oil drain holes of sufficient area, would prevent the excessive oiling of the Liberty engine, particularly with the engine running at idling speed with full oil pressure. Results showed that excessive oiling was in fact prevented. It is strongly recommended that scraper rings and pistons be adopted for aircraft engines.

A method for computing the aerodynamic induction of wings with elliptic plan form if arbitrarily twisted.

Note presenting an exploration of aircraft safety during curved flight, which leads to more stress on the wings than other types of flight.

"The efficient performance of an airplane requires that certain adjustments be made as the density of the air through which the airplane passes changes. The safety of the over-dimensioned aircraft engine depends upon careful manipulation of spark advance and throttle opening and a proper control of a variable pitch propeller, if the maximum performance of the supercharged engine is to be obtained. It is evident that there is a real need for satisfactory devices to make such adjustments automatically. Discussed here is a method of automatic compensation which deserves consideration in the design of such devices" (p. 1).