This report presents a thermodynamic basis for rating heat engines. The production of work by a heat engine rests on the operation of supplying heat, under favorable conditions, to a working fluid and then taking it away.

The tests at the Gottingen laboratory included: friction tests on a surface treated with emaillite, verification tests on the M.V.A. 356 wing, and comparative tests of wing no. 36 at the Eiffel laboratory. The examination of all these experiments leads to the belief that, at large incidences, the speeds registered by the suction manometer of the testing chamber of the Eiffel laboratory wind tunnel are, owing to pressure drop, greater than the actual speeds. Therefore, the values of k(sub x) and k(sub y) measured at the Eiffel laboratory at large incidences are too low.

"The behavior of a liquid or gaseous medium, in which a solid body can move freely under the action of a force of constant magnitude and direction, is yet little known. Only in connection with a few special problems, which belong in this field, have experiments been tried and these chiefly concern technically important cases. The behavior of the simplest shaped bodies has as yet been scarcely investigated at all" (p. 1).

The object of the present study was to define experimentally the field of temperature and velocity in a heated flat plate when exposed to an air stream whose direction is parallel to it, then calculate therefrom the heat transference and the friction past the flat plate, and lastly, compare the test data with the mathematical theory. To ensure comparable results, we were to actually obtain or else approximate: a) two-dimensional flow; b) constant plate temperature in the direction of the stream. To approximate the flow in two dimensions, we chose a relatively wide plate and measured the velocity and temperature in the median plane.

"This article resulted from the need of showing, in a simple way, how the aerodynamic properties of airfoils are affected by the shape of their profiles. No general solution of this problem could be found, since the profile shapes cannot ordinarily be expressed by simple mathematical formulas. This advantage is possessed only by the Joukowsky profiles and this discussion of the problem is therefore limited to them" (p. 1).

The author's first experiments with a glider on flight characteristics demonstrated that an accurate flight-path measurement would enable determination of the polar diagram from a gliding flight. Since then he has endeavored to obtain accurate flight measurements by means of kinetograph (motion-picture camera). Different methods of accomplishing this are presented.

The present report concerns the development of general propeller performance and r.p.m. curves which, combined with the general curve of the power required for level flight, presents a complete picture of the performance. The curve of power required for level flight in this paper is only an approximation for constant profile drag coefficient, meaning that it is not suitable to unconventional wing sections.

Based upon Kirchoff's theory of free jets the flow through different screen arrangements of flat plates, as chiefly encountered with turbines in the cavitation zone is defined. It is shown by experiments that these theoretical results are very well representative in most cases of the conditions of discharge from water in air and consequently by cavitation. In addition, the experiments reveal a picture of the discrepancies between the actual flow and the theory of discharge of air in air (of water in water without cavitation).

The following report endeavors to show that aeromechanical experimentation has become an important aid to theory. Experiments can be tried with separate parts of airplanes or with models of whole airplanes, with propellers, and with anything else that comes into contact with moving air.

Engine conditions such as pressure characteristics, temperatures, and mechanical fatigue enable the employment of a criterion of general fatigue which simultaneously takes account of both mechanical and thermal conditions, for the sake of comparing any projected engine with engines of the same type already in use.

The present work investigates, on the basis of Prandtl's wing theory, the form of the lift distribution when the ailerons are deflected in opposite directions. An ideal fluid and a wing with a rectangular form are assumed. The moments must not cause any rotation of the wing or any deviation from the rectilinear motion.

Report discussing a demonstration was given within the last few days at the British Museum by Mr. J. W. Gordon, author of "Generalized Linear Perspective" (Constable and Co.), a work describing a newly-worked-out system by which photographs can be made available for the purpose of exactly recording the dimensions of the objects photographed even when the objects themselves are presented foreshortened in the photograph.

A history of English metal spar construction is presented in this paper. The way in which different spar designs or spar materials influence the aircraft wing loading and aerodynamics is described.

"On April 15, 1920, the under Secretary of State for Aeronautics and Aerial Transport decided to adopt as Standard Atmosphere for official airplane tests in France, the atmosphere defined by the following law, known as the Law of the S.T.You.(Technical Section of Aeronautics): From 0 to 11,000 m. - 0=15-0.0065 Z and above 11,000 m. - 0= -56.5 degrees being the temperature in centigrade degrees at altitude Z expressed in meters. For altitude 0 the pressure is 760 mm of mercury. In the magazine "L'Aeronautique" Mr. A. Toussaint has already written at length on the first studies which led to the elaboration of this law. Since that time the results obtained have been confirmed by fuller and more abundant data which have justified the official adoption of the Law of the S.T.Ae" (p. 1).

"When an airplane describes a curve it takes a certain time for it to turn from level to inclined position and then back to level again. In the following, we express the motion about the horizontal axis as "roll" or "bank" and the motion perpendicular to the vertical axis, i.e., the actual curve, as "turn." Equations and tables provide results on various aspects of turns, control settings, acceleration, inertia moments, and angular velocity" (p. 2).

This investigation has a double object: 1) the calculation of the general characteristics of certain wings with progressively varying sections; 2) the determination of data furnishing, in certain cases, some information on the actual distribution of the external forces acting on a wing. We shall try to show certain advantages belonging to the few wing types of variable section which we shall study and that, even if the general aerodynamic coefficients of these wings are not often clearly superior to those of certain wings of uniform section, the wings of variable section nevertheless have certain advantages over those of uniform section in the distribution of the attainable stresses.

Progress in the scientific and practical fields of aviation has caused the Swiss Institute of Technology to organize lectures and practical training courses in all three branches of aeronautics and to found centers of scientific research, laboratories, etc., in order to supply the government and industries with scientifically and technically trained engineers.

A formula for calculating the safety of airplanes is given and the stresses on airplane components are calculated. Some questions regarding the information obtained from the formula and its application to safe airplane design for pilots are provided.

Tailless airplanes are characterized by having all their control surfaces, especially the elevator, incorporated in the wings. This paper provides a discussion of the history of their development and current state of development.

The object of this work has been to construct an apparatus for obtaining oscillogram of voltages and currents which are variable with respect to time and of the frequency which is constantly met in radio.

The causes of the destruction of the Dixmude are discussed and some conclusions are drawn. The author believes a gasoline fire instead of a lightning strike was probably responsible, but the public believes otherwise.

The author recounts his experiments with helicopters. The object of his investigations was to remain stationary in the air for five minutes and to make a closed flight at low altitude. Some of the topics discussed include stabilization, horizontal flight, and directional control.

Wind-driven propellers are much used as sources of power for equipment such as radios. This report establishes the principles involved and acquaints the reader with rules for design of such windmills.

This report discusses the general considerations for the design of aerodynamic laboratories. The dimensions, construction, and components of the wind tunnel are given special attention.