Report discusses testing performed to determine the fatigue strength of various types of riveted and spot-welded joints in the following aluminum alloys: Alclad 24S-T, 24S-RT, 758-T, 24S-T81, and 24S-T86. Details of the experiment, tensile properties, and information about failure are provided.

Report discusses the results of an investigation to compare the discharge characteristics of an alcohol feed ring and a standard alcohol discharge nozzle when utilized to supply anti-icing alcohol to the propeller-blade feed shoes on a Curtiss-Wright C-46 cargo airplane. The equipment used, testing practices, and results of the alcohol flow distribution are described.

Report discusses the results of an investigation to study the effect of the height of a rivet head on the number of cycles required to cause failure of a machine-countersunk flush-riveted joint under a combined static and alternating shear load. A tight joint and a loose joint were tested and the number of cycles to failure and location of fatigue failure were compared.

"A formula is given for the critical compressive stress for slightly curved sheet with equal elastic restraints against rotation along the unloaded edges. The theory of small deflections is used and the formula reduces to that given by Timoshenko for the case of simply-supported edges. For larger curvatures, a modification of Redshaw's formula to include the effect of edge restraint is suggested" (p. 1).

Report discusses the results of strength tests of several curved-sheet 24S-T aluminum alloy specimens stiffened longitudinally and transversely and loaded in shear. Curved-web beams and cylindrical shells were both examined in the tests. Results provided include the load at which the sheet began to show shear buckles, where the buckles occurred, and whether or not the failures involved rupture of the sheet.

"Two graphical methods are presented for determining the stick-free neutral point, and they are extensions of the methods commonly used to determine the stick-free neutral point. A mathematical formula for computing the stick-free neutral point is also given. These methods may be applied to determine approximately the increase in tail size necessary to shift the neutral point (stick fixed or free) to any desired location on an airplane having inadequate longitudinal stability" (p. 1).

Bulletin presenting a discussion of information as to the influence on spins and spin recovery of the wing loading and load distribution of present-day pursuit airplanes. The high wing loadings results in high rates of descent and large control forces for recovery.

From Introduction: "Fatigue life expectancy in normal transport operations was investigated in reference 1 and was found to be of equal importance with single-gust life. The effect of overload operation of transport airplanes on the probability of encountering single critical gusts was investigated in reference 2 and the frequency of critical gusts was found to increase rapidly with overload. The effect of overload operation on fatigue strength, however, has not heretofore been evaluated, hence the investigations of references 1 and 2 are combined herein to permit such evaluation and to determine the relative importance of fatigue and single-gust failures under conditions of overload operation."

Report discussing strain measurements made on a box beam of triangular cross section and on two beams of D-section under transverse bending. Information about the arrangement of the beams and experimental and calculated stresses for different boxes.

Report presents tables and charts for the evaluation of profile drag from wake surveys at high supersonic speeds. Two methods of evaluation are presented: an exact method that can be used on a wake of any shape and a simple approximate method that can be used when the variation of total-pressure loss across the wave has a typical form.

Report discusses some unusual velocity-acceleration records on transport airplanes, which the report defines as "records of accelerations experienced in flight that resulted from causes other than atmospheric gusts" (from Summary). The analysis of the records, which is required for determining proper classification, is described, and the sorting of the records into gust- or maneuver-related is described. The report also discusses the importance of receiving this data from flight operators in addition to the routine information they provide.

"Typical thrust and torque coefficients and increments, due to the propeller, in the ratio of the dynamic pressure at the tail to the free-stream dynamic pressure are presented for 10 full-scale airplanes. Calculations indicate that an error of about 2 percent mean aerodynamic chord appears possible in determining the neutral point from wind-tunnel tests or a model in the gliding condition if the propeller is operated at zero thrust rather than at the values of thrust coefficient indicated by the flight tests" (p. 1).

Report discusses the results of testing of rudder deflection for trim at low speeds in the critical wave-off condition. Depending on the lateral center-of-gravity location on the airplane, the useful load in the wings will change and the ability of the rudder to trim the airplane may be greatly improved.

Report discusses the maximum lift coefficients for conventional and tailless airplanes in the gliding and landing conditions. Three areas are used to calculate the coefficients: wing area alone, wing area plus horizontal-tail area, and wing area plus horizontal- and vertical-tail areas.

Report discusses the results of two tests: "1) aerodynamic tests to determine the effect of the slipstream and thrust from the powered propellers on the lift and trimming-moment characteristics, and 2) hydrodynamic tests to determine the effect of the powered propellers on the range of stable locations of the center of gravity (from Introduction)." Large differences in the stable range between half-thrust and full-thrust conditions were observed. Three effects of power were also involved in the location of the stable range of the center of gravity.

Report discusses five tests related to seaplane skipping and attempts to prevent it by changing the depths of step to avoid large suction force on the afterbody generated by the flow behind a shallow step. Flying boats of various sizes and weights were tested during landing and several degrees of trim were tested for boats that had a particularly shallow step. Design suggestions for future flying boats are also included.

Report discusses the results of testing on the dynamic stability characteristics of various hydrofoil systems for seaplanes, including a flat-hydrofoil tandem system, a 20 degree V-hydrofoil tandem system, a curved-hydrofoil tandem system, a flat-hydrofoil ladder system, a Guidoni S.V.A.-type hydrofoil on a streamline spindle, and several self-propelled models, including the Tietjens hydrofoil system. The instability and spray were compared for the different systems.

Report discusses tests conducted using a model of a four-engine long-range flying boat with a 30 degree V-step and two different transverse steps of comparable positions and depths. The limits of stability, landing speed, and landing characteristics of the different models are presented.

Report discusses the results of compressive testing of 24S-T aluminum-alloy sheet-stiffener panels with five ratios of stiffener thickness to sheet thickness. For each ratio, rivets of five different diameters were used to attach the stiffeners to the sheets. The compressive strengths were found to increase with an increase in the diameter of the rivets until the ratio of rivet diameter to over-all thickness reached a certain point.

Report presenting an analysis of records of more than 134,000 flying hours, which have been received and evaluated in order to bring the V-G recorder data up to date. The analysis of the records is contained in the report. Results indicate that the maximum effective gust velocities for both the land transport airplanes and the flying boats have approached values of 40 feet per second.

"On July 31, 1941 a turbulence survey was made with the XC-35 airplane of a large cumulus congestus cloud near Langley Field, Va. This bulletin presents a general description of conditions and the maximum gust intensities recorded during the flight" (p. 1).

Report presenting measurements of the lateral distribution of effective gust velocity along the span of the XC-35 airplane in a variety of weather conditions. Six standard shapes were determined from the distributions: triangular, rectangular, first trapezoidal, second trapezoidal, unsymmetrical, and double triangular.

Report discusses measurements of gust size and intensity during the spring and summer of 1941 and 1942 under a variety of weather conditions and various altitudes up to 34,000 feet. Information about average gust-gradient distance, gust velocities, and gust frequency is included.

Report discusses the results of measurements made via an XC-35 airplane to determine the relation between the velocities of vertical drafts and associated gusts within convective-type clouds. Information about vertical-draft velocity and maximum vertical true gust velocity is included.