"The perturbation field induced by a line vortex in a supersonic stream and the downwash behind a supersonic lifting surface are examined to establish approximate methods for determining the downwash behind supersonic wings. Lifting-lines methods are presented for calculating supersonic downwash. A bent lifting-line method is proposed for computing the downwash field behind swept wings. When applied to triangular wings with subsonic leading edges, this method gives results that, in general, are in good agreement with the exact linearized solution" (p. 635).

"An investigation of the stability and control characteristics of a 1/10-scale model of a Canadian tailless glider has been conducted in the 10 Langley free-flight tunnel. The glider designated the N.R.L. tailless glider has a straight center section and outboard panels sweptback 43 deg. along the leading edge of the wing. The aspect ratio is 5.83 and the taper ratio is 0.323. From the results of the investigation and on the basis of comparison with higher-scale static tests of the National Research Council of Canada, it is expected that the longitudinal stability of the airplane will be satisfactory with flap up but unsatisfactory near the stall with flap down" (p. 1).

From Introduction: "The aerodynamic heating problem assumes considerable importance at high-supersonic speeds. Sanger and Bredt (reference 1) have calculated the high-speed aerodynamic forces and equilibrium surface temperature at extremely high altitudes where the molecular mean free path is large (free-molecule-flow region) compared with a characteristic body dimension. The theoretical investigation of Lees (reference 2) on the stability of the laminar boundary layer in compressible flow indicates that the laminar boundary layer is completely stable at all Reynolds numbers at supersonic speeds for a sufficiently low ratio of surface temperature to stream temperature."

Report presenting an investigation to determine the effects of number of wings on the aileron rolling effectiveness of an RM-5 test vehicle using the free-rolling wind-tunnel testing technique through a speed range to Mach number 0.9. The wings tested had neither taper nor sweepback and were equipped with full-span 20-percent-chord sealed and faired ailerons. Results indicated that increasing the number of wings resulted in a decrease in rolling effectiveness so that results obtained from the test of the three-wing model were closer to conventional-airplane-configuration results than the four-wing data.

Report presenting the planing characteristics, as determined by tank tests, of three surfaces representative of hydro-ski forms. One surface had a rectangular plan form with a flat bottom, one had a rectangular plan form with a transversely curved bottom, and the third had a flat bottom and triangular plan form. Results are provided in the form of plots of the load on the water, resistance, trimming moment, and draft against total wetted area with speed and trim as parameters.

Report presenting a low-speed investigation in the stability tunnel to determine the effects of changes in profile and aspect ratio on the low-speed static-stability and rolling characteristics of triangular wings. The investigation was expanded to determine the effects of adding fins to the upper surface and of cutting portions from the tips of a triangular wing to form low-aspect-ratio tapered wings.

Report presenting the performance of a ramjet unit consisting of an intake diffuser, an exhaust nozzle, and a cluster of thin-plate burners contained in a semicircular combustion chamber as investigated in the induction aerodynamics laboratory.