Report presenting results of a flight investigation using a jet-powered bomber airplane to determine the vertical tail loads. Strain-gage measurements were made of the fin and rudder loads in abrupt rudder kicks and in gradual sideslip maneuvers.

From Summary: "A ceramic consisting nominally of 75 percent molybdenum disilicide and 25 percent alumium oxide was investigated to determine its thermal shock characteristics and high-temperature strength properties. In a rim-quench thermal shock evaluation, the material was found to be superior to pure molybdenum disilicide. In a simulated altitude blow-out test, the material withstood an average of 2.5 cycles when quenched from 1800 degrees Fahrenheit."

Report presenting a flight investigation to determine horizontal-tail loads at transonic speeds of the Bell X-1. The tests were made through the transonic region and at high lift coefficients. Results regarding the time histories, tail load data, aerodynamic-center positions, and potential load discrepancy explanations are presented.

Report presenting zero-lift drag data for a series of fin-stabilized bodies differing only in afterbody shape. Three series of afterbodies with varying ratios of base radium to maximum radius were combined with a fineness-ratio-7.13 parabolic nose. Results regarding the total drag, drag breakdown, comparison of experimental and theoretical afterbody pressure drag, and afterbody design criteria are provided.

Report presenting an investigation of the lift, drag, pitching-moment, and downwash characteristics of a triangular wing of aspect ratio 3 with an NACA 63A006 section. Downwash was measured by using an all-movable horizontal tail at five locations. Results regarding basic wing characteristics and stability contribution of the tail are also provided.

"In recent months interest has increased in the possible use of distillate and residual fuel oils as fuels for commercial gas-turbine aircraft. However, the use of such fuels entails the solution of many problems pertaining to fuel physical properties and combustion characteristics. This report reviews some of these problems and discusses the status of current knowledge in relation to their solution" (p. 1).

Report presenting testing of a model of a Navy Bureau of Aeronautics design in Langley tank no. 2 to determine the calm-water take-off and rough-water landing characteristics of the design with particular attention paid to the take-off resistance and landing accelerations. Results regarding resistance, take-off stability, landing stability, spray, and landing acceleration are provided.

Report presenting an investigation of the overall performance of a 20-inch-tip-diameter, eight-stage axial-flow compressor conducted as the initial step in an investigation of the problems encountered in a high-pressure-ratio axial-flow compressor with transonic inlet stages. The investigation was made over a range of weight flows at equivalent speeds from 30 to 100 percent of design speed. Results regarding the overall performance, stage performance, comparison with design, and engine application are provided.

Report presenting information about airfoil section normal-force, drag, pitching-moment, flap-normal-force, and hinge-moment characteristics at Mach numbers from 0.5 to 1.0 on an NACA 64A006 airfoil with 15-percent-chord leading-edge flap. Differing results were noted in the Mach ranges of 0.5 to 0.8 and over 0.8.

Report presenting an investigation to determine the low-speed yaw characteristics of an airplane model with a 47.7 degree sweptback wing of aspect ratio 6 and to determine lateral stability contributions of various model components and associated mutual interference. The complete airplane model was directionally stable through the yaw-angle range for angles of attack up to 23 degrees.

Report presenting visual-flow studies made of the behavior of the vortices which form in the separated flow region in the lee of an inclined body of revolution. Generally, the configuration of vortices in the wake could be changed by varying the position of the crossflow separation lines along the sides of the body. Results regarding the effects of body expansion, effect of body cross-sectional asymmetry, Reynolds number effects, and effects of vortex configuration on body forces are provided.

Memorandum presenting two nose inlets utilizing the boundary-layer separation ahead of a blunt body to provide a compression surface at Mach number 5.5. Results regarding the spherical-nose inlet, the planar-nose inlet, some operating characteristics, and a comparison with the single-conical-shock inlet are provided.

This investigation was made to adapt wet-process autoradiography to metallurgical samples to obtain high resolution of segregated radioactive elements in microstructures. Results are confined to development of the technique, which was perfected to a resolution of less than 10 microns. The radioactive samples included carbon-14 carburized iron and steel, nickel-63 electroplated samples, a powder product containing nickel-63, and tungsten-185 in N-155 alloy.

"The results of free-flight drag tests of 40-millimeter shells conducted by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics for the Ballistic Research Laboratories, Ordnance Department, U. S. Army, are presented. A drag reduction at supersonic speeds of approximately 20 percent of the projectile's drag was obtained by combustion in the wake of the projectile in flight" (p. 1).

Flight tests were conducted between Mach numbers of 0.9 and 1.8 over a Reynolds number range of 9(exp 6) to 30(exp 6) to determine the zero-lift drag and some rolling-effectiveness characteristics of the Northrop MX -775B missile with small and large body. The MX-775B is a proposed long range, supersonic, ground-to-ground missile having an arrow wing with 67.5 degree leading-edge sweep, 15 deg trailing-edge sweep, and a modified NACA 0004 airfoil section. The configuration has no horizontal tail but has wing trailing-edge elevons which serve a dual purpose as elevators and ailerons. The ratio of body frontal area to wing plan-form area is 0.0127 for the small-body configuration and 0.0330 for the large-body configuration.