"A quantitative criterion of merit has been needed to assist airplane designers to incorporate satisfactory spinning characteristics into new designs. An approximate empirical criterion, based on the projected side area and the mass distribution of the airplane, has been formulated in a recent British report. In the present paper, the British results have been analyzed and applied to American designs. A simpler design criterion based solely on the type and the dimensions of the tail, has been developed: it is useful in a rapid estimation of whether a new design is likely to comply with the minimum requirements for safety in spinning" (p. 1).

Note discussing the lift of a finite wing including the calculations and constants for each step of the lift. This information is compared against the lift of an infinite wing. From Summary: "Unsteady lift function for wings of finite aspect ratio have been calculated by approximate methods involving corrections of the aerodynamic inertia and of the angle of the infinite wing. The starting lift of the finite wing is found to be only slightly less than that of the infinite wing; whereas the final lift may be considerably less. The calculations indicate that the distribution of lift near the start is similar to the final distribution."

This report details the acceleration data collected from racing airplanes during actual races. The data was collected in order to make recommendations regarding the structural safety of racing airplanes and the methods of operating racing airplanes that reduces the probability of subjecting them to extreme air loads. The records do not lead to any conclusions regarding maximum air loads.

Results of an investigation wherein the change of the normal force coefficient with Reynolds Number was obtained statically for a 15.5-centimeter hemispherical cup.

Study of the bending stress in smooth skin, aluminum alloy, true monocoque fuselage sections of varying ratio of diameter to thickness.

"This thesis presents the method of moment distribution modified to include the effect of axial load upon the bending moments. This modification makes it possible to analyze accurately complex structures, such as rigid fuselage trusses, that heretofore had to be analyzed by approximate formulas and empirical rules. The method is simple enough to be practicable even for complex structures, and it gives a means of analysis for continuous beams that is simpler than the extended three-moment equation now in common use" (p. 1).

Note presenting a description of a large number of corrugated diaphragms of beryllium copper, phosphor bronze, and Z-nickel with geometrically similar outlines but various diameters and thicknesses were formed by hydraulic pressing. The apparatus and technique used in the manufacture, testing, and heat treatment are described. Results regarding pressure-deflection curves, load limit, effect of center reinforcing, snap-action diaphragms, deflection traverse, thickness variations, and concentrated central loads are provided.

Report presenting testing of a dynamically scaled model of a Navy XBM-1 biplane in the gust tunnel to provide data for use in determining the structure of atmospheric gusts from measurements of the motions of the full-scale airplane in rough air. Records for two flights for several gradients were evaluated to give histories of events during passage through the gust.

"A method is presented for calculating the aerodynamic forces on a moncylane wing, taking into account the elastic twisting of the wing due to these forces. The lift distribution along the span is calculated by the formulas of Amstutz as a function of the geometrical characteristics of the wing and of the twist at stations 60 and 90 percent of the semispan. The twist for a given lift distribution is calculated by means of influence lines" (p. 1).

From Summary: "An investigation was made in the NACA 7 by 10 foot wind tunnel to find the increase in maximum lift coefficient which could be obtained by providing a model wing with both a Fowler trailing-edge extension flap and a Handley Page type leading-edge slot. A conventional Handley page slot proportioned to operate on the plain wing without a flap gave but a slight increase with the flap; so a special form of slot was developed to work more effectively with the flap. With the best combined arrangement the maximum lift coefficient based on the original area was increased from 3.17, for the Fowler wing, to 3.62."

"This report gives the characteristics of a wing with an auxiliary airfoil mounted near its trailing edge and used as a flap. The tests were made with a 10 by 60 inch Clark Y main airfoil and an NACA 0012 flap having a chord equal to 15 percent of the main wing chord. The axis of the flap in all cases was on the flap chord and 20 percent back from its leading edge. The optimum location of the flap axis relative to the main wing for maximum lift was found to be 1.25 percent of the main wing chord behind the trailing edge and 2.5 percent below the chord" (p. 1).

Note presenting a discrepancy between the predicted and actual point of transition from laminar to turbulent boundary layer that had been found. This effect may be due to the comparatively small radius of curvature of the upper surface of the wing.

"Measurements were made of the maximum push, pull, and tangential forces that could be applied to airplane wheel-type controls for a wide range of fore-and-aft positions of the wheel. The measurements were conducted with several sizes of wheels and several heights of the center of the wheel above the seat. Various one and two-hand grips with pilots both secure and free were studied for each of the two pilots used in the investigation" (p. 1).

Tests on a high-speed single-cylinder engine are described. The regularity of the spark timing was varied by driving the timer from different engine shafts. A simple and reasonably accurate method of determining the spark timing is described. The results show that irregular spark timing may cause large errors in tests of the knocking properties of fuels. For the engine tested, it was found that a change of one crankshaft degree in spark restart was equivalent to an 0.85 inch Hg change in allowable inlet pressure.

"Wind tunnel and flight tests were made to determine the performance characteristics of two designs of commercially available venturi tubes used in airplanes to operate air-driven gyroscopic instruments. Data obtained at sea level may be used to make approximate predictions of performance at higher altitudes. There is some indication that this may also be done for single venturi tubes" (p. 1).

"Bending tests were made of two circular cylinders of corrugated aluminum-alloy sheet. In each test failure occurred by bending of the corrugations in a plane normal to the skin. It was found, after analysis of the effect of short end bays, that the computed stress on the extreme fiber of a corrugated cylinder is in excess of that for a flat panel of the same basic pattern and panel length tested as a pin-ended column. It is concluded that this increased strength was due to the effects of curvature of the pitch line. It is also concluded from the tests that light bulkheads closely spaced strengthen corrugated cylinders very materially" (p. 1).

"Methods of automatically controlling the airplane are reviewed. Equations for the controlled motion including inertia effects of the control are developed and methods of investigating the stability of the resulting fifth and higher order equations are presented. The equations for longitudinal and lateral motion with both ideal and non-ideal controls are developed in dimensionless form in terms of control parameters based on simple dynamic tests of the isolated control unit" (p. 1).

"Tables of stiffness and carry-over factor are presented for members in which the cross section and axial load do not vary along the length of the member. These tables are of use in solving problems in the stability of structural members under axial load as well as in application of the Cross method of moment distribution when the effects of axial load in the members are considered. The interval between successive values of the argument is small enough to make interpolation unnecessary in engineering calculations" (p. 1).

"Flow coefficients were determined for the inlet valve of a modern air-cooled cylinder during operation of the valve. The cylinder head with valves was mounted on a large tank that could be evacuated. Operating the valve with a rotating cam allowed air to flow through the valve into the evacuated tank. The change of pressure in the tank was a measure of the amount of air flowing though the valve in a given number of cycles. The flow coefficients were determined from the pressure across the valve, the quantity of air flowing, and the valve-lift curve" (p. 1).

Report presenting testing of rectangular Clark-Y biplane cellules with zero and -0.25 stagger, the gap equal to the chord, and 0 degrees decalage were tested on the NACA spinning balance in the 5-foot vertical tunnel.

Four models of outboard floats (N.A.C.A. models 51-A, 51-B, 51-C, and 51-D) were tested in the N.A.C.A. tank to determine their hydrodynamic characteristics and in the 20-foot wind tunnel to determine their aerodynamic drag. The results of the tests, together with comparisons of them, are presented in the form of charts. From the comparisons, the order of merit of the models is estimated for each factor considered. The best compromise between the various factors seems to be given by model 51-D. This model is the only one in the series with a transverse step.

Flight tests were made to demonstrate the particularity of employing fixed tabs in conjunction with a suitably designed differential linkage to reduce the force required to operate ailerons. The tests showed the system to be practicable with tabs of the inset type. The relative ineffectiveness of attached tabs for changing the aileron floating angle rendered them unsuitable. Experience gained in the investigation has indicated that the use of the system is limited to maximum deflections of one aileron relative to the other of less than 30 degrees and that the differential linkage should always be designed on the basis of the highest probable floating angle.

"The results of a complete tank test of a model of a flying-boat hull of unconventional form, having a deep pointed step, are presented in this note. The advantage of the pointed-step type over the usual forms of flying-boat hulls with respect to resistance at high speeds is pointed out. A take-off example using the data from these tests is worked out, and the results are compared with those of an example in which the test data for a hull of the type in general use in the United States are applied to a flying boat having the same design specifications. A definite saving in take-off run is shown by the pointed-step type" (p. 1).

Note presenting tests of several forms of fixed wing slot in a large-chord NACA 23012 airfoil in the closed-throat 7- by 10-foot wind tunnel. The airfoil extended completely across the test section so that two-dimensional flow was approximated. The data are presented in the form of tables of important aerodynamic characteristics for each slot tested and as curves of section lift, profile-drag, and pitching-moment coefficients.