The report discusses the problem of rating the various seaplane designs from the 1926 seaplane contest. The whole process of rating consists in measuring the climbing speed, flying weight and carrying capacity of a seaplane and then using these data as the basis of a construction problem.

"This collection of data on airfoils has been made from published reports of a number of the leading aerodynamic laboratories of this country and Europe. The information which was originally expressed according to the different customs of the several laboratories is here presented in a uniform series of charts and tables suitable for the use of designing engineers and for purposes of general reference. The authority for the results here presented is given as the name of the laboratory at which the experiments were conducted, with the size of the model, wind velocity, and year of tests" (p. 139).

From Introduction: "The increasing use of airplane wings equipped with ailerons and the importance of knowing the aerodynamic characteristics of tail units (empennages) provided with movable parts (rudders and elevators) impart some interest to the so-called "empirical profiles." For this purpose we thought best to employ the method proposed by Munk for the approximate theoretical study of thin, slightly curved profiles, assimilable, from an aerodynamic view-point, to their mean camber line."

This report presents the first part of a two part study made under this title. In this part the symmetrical inviscid flow about an empirical strut of high service merit is found by both the Rankine and the Joukowsky methods. The results can be made to agree as closely as wished. Theoretical stream surfaces as well as surfaces of constant speed and pressure in the fluid about the strut are found. The surface pressure computed from the two theories agrees well with the measured pressure on the fore part of the model but not so well on the after part. From the theoretical flow speed the surface friction is computed by an empirical formula. The drag integrated from the friction and measured pressure closely equals the whole measured drag. As the pressure drag and the whole drag are accurately determined, the friction formula also appears trustworthy for such fair shapes. (author).

From Introduction Purpose and Organization: "This report on a method of analysis of aircraft accidents has been prepared by a special committee on the nomenclature, subdivision, and classification of aircraft accidents organized by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in response to a request dated February 18, 1928, from the Air Coordination Committee consisting of the Assistant Secretaries for Aeronautics in the Departments of War, Navy, and Commerce."

We are here giving a summary of the rules established by the Theoretical Section of the Central Aerodynamic Institute of Moscow for the different calculation cases of an airplane. It appears the engineers of the Aerodynamic Institute considered only thick or medium profiles. For these profiles they have attempted to increase the safety when the center of pressure moves appreciably toward the trailing edge.

Report includes the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics letter of submittal to the President, Congressional report, summaries of the committee's activities and research accomplished, bibliographies, and financial report.

Circular describing the Armstrong-Whitworth "Starling", which is a single seat fighter that can be used for day fighting and night fighting. Details of the wings, wing bracing, lift characteristics, construction, internal components, characteristics, drawings, and photographs are provided.

Described here is an automatic control that has been used in several forms in wind tunnels at the Washington Navy Yard. The form now in use with the 8-foot tunnel at the Navy Yard is considered here. Details of the design and operation of the automatic control system are given. Leads from a Pitot tube are joined to an inverted cup manometer located above a rheostat. When the sliding weight of this instrument is set to a given notch, say for 40 m.p.h, the beam tip vibrates between two electric contacts that feed the little motor. Thus, when the wind is too strong or too weak, the motor automatically throws the rheostat slide forward and backward. If it failed to function well, the operator would notice the effect on his meniscus, and would operate the hand control by merely pressing the switch.

Gasoline, the fuel now used, is an extremely volatile and inflammable liquid capable of forming explosive mixtures, the cause of many catastrophes in aviation. It is therefore of special interest to investigate the possibility of using fuels which, while being less volatile than gasoline, would nevertheless enable this engine to function satisfactorily.

The Avro Avian has a lift capacity of 828 lbs (including pilot). It is equipped with the Mark II A.D.C. Cirrus engine. Details regarding the fuselage, cockpits, controls, landing gear, wings, engines, characteristics, drawings, and photographs are provided.

The purpose of this report is to correlate, bring up to date, and put under a single cover all the information thought to be essential to an understanding of the formulas regarding bearing strength of wood under steel aircraft bolts and washers and other factors influencing fitting design.

The 127 is a cantilever monoplane without external bracing. It is designed to accompany and protect bombardment and observation aircraft. Descriptions of the airfoil, fuselage, power plant, landing gears, and armament are provided.

Report presenting a description of the design of the Blériot-Spad 91 airplane. This aircraft has announced a speed of 270 km per hour at 4000 m. It is of all metal construction.

The Sidestrand I is a twin engine bomber that has gone into production for Royal Air Force Squadrons. It seats three, and can carry a load in excess of 3500 lbs.

Tested at the end of March, 1928, the C.A.M.S. 54 G.R. was built for the purpose of crossing the Atlantic from Europe by way of the azores. It has a biplane construction with wings mounted above the hull. It is powered by two new series 500 HP. geared Hispano Suiza V type engines.

For good profiles the profile-drag coefficient is almost constant in the whole range which comes into consideration for practical flight. This is manifest in the consideration of the Gottingen airfoil tests and is confirmed by the investigations of the writer (measurements of the profile drag during flight by the Betz method), concerning which a detailed report will soon be published. The following deductions proceed from this fact. The formulas developed on the assumptions of a constant profile-drag coefficient afford an extensive insight into the influences exerted on flight performances by the structure of the airplane.

The Ca 97 is constructed with wings half overhung, a large fuselage, all metal construction, and can be configured with 1 to 3 engines.

This report presents a discussion of the Rohrbach type of giant airplane. The problems considered are structural drag, wing loading and divided power plants.

"Tests were carried out in the variable density wind tunnel of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics on six airfoil sections used by the Bureau of Aeronautics as propeller sections. The sections were tested at pressures of 1 and 20 atmospheres corresponding to Reynolds numbers of about 170,000 and 3,500,000. The results obtained, besides providing data for the design of propellers, should be of special interest because of the opportunity afforded for the study of scale effect on a family of airfoil sections having different thickness ratios" (p. 127).

"The choice of the profile for the wings of an airplane is a problem which should be solved by a scientific method based on data obtained by systematic experimentation. The problem, in its present form, may be stated as follows: "To find a profile which has certain required aerodynamic characteristics and which encloses the spars, whose number, dimensions and separating distance are likewise determined by structural considerations." At present, the static test, corresponding to the case of accelerated flight at limited speed, requires the knowledge of the moment of the aerodynamic resultant at the angle of zero lift, and the possibility of controlling the magnitude of the corresponding absolute coefficient within more or less extensive limits" (p. 1).

This report gives a general method for drawing airplane profiles. This method is useful, but it leads to a somewhat laborious drawing which becomes quite complicated when we take a transformation function having terms of a high degree.

Report compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Mines including statistics on fatalities in coal mines located in the United States as well as data regarding the various operations (e.g., number of miners employed and average production). The information is organized into tables for comparison and the text draws some overall conclusions in the summary.

This report describes the leading crankless engine types, which have appeared in recent years. These types include: the Mitchell crankless motor car engine and the German Michel engine.