Flight tests of a balanced split flap with particular reference to rapid operation (open access)

Flight tests of a balanced split flap with particular reference to rapid operation

The flight path of a small parasol monoplane equipped with a special type of balanced split flap was determined for a series of glides during which the time taken to deflect or retract the flap was varied from 1 to 15 seconds in order to study the effect of the time taken to complete a flap movement on the motion of an airplane between the start of a flap movement and the attainment of steady flight with the new flap setting. For flap movements accompanied by a change of lift characteristics, and consequently of velocity, there is an appreciable delay in obtaining a desired change in glide angle even though the flap is operated instantaneously. Immediate control of the glide path is obtained only when the speed is maintained during the flap movement. When the speed is changed, the deviation from the desired path during the transition increases in proportion to the rapidity with which the flap is moved so that, with a high-lift flap, abrupt retraction at speeds less than the minimum speed with the flap retracted may be dangerous if practiced close to the ground.
Date: December 1935
Creator: Soulé, H. A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Drag of Prestone and Oil Radiators on the YO-31A Airplane (open access)

Drag of Prestone and Oil Radiators on the YO-31A Airplane

"At the request of the Army Air Corps tests were conducted on a mock-up of the YO-31A airplane to determine the drag of the prestone and oil radiators. The drag of the airplane was determined with both radiators exposed on the lower surface of the fuselage; with each radiator exposed; and with no radiators. The results show that at 120 m.p.h the oil radiator accounted for 2.8 percent of the drag of the complete airplane; the prestone radiator 8.3 percent; and both radiators together, 11.8 percent" (p. 1).
Date: December 1935
Creator: DeFrance, S. J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Aircraft compass characteristics (open access)

Aircraft compass characteristics

From Summary: "A description of the test methods used at the National Bureau of Standards for determining the characteristics of aircraft compasses is given. The methods described are particularly applicable to compasses in which mineral oil is used as the damping liquid. Data on the viscosity and density of certain mineral oils used in United States Navy aircraft compasses are presented. Results of flight tests are presented."
Date: December 14, 1935
Creator: Peterson, John B. & Smith, Clyde W.
System: The UNT Digital Library