A Brief Study of the Speed Reduction of Overtaking Airplanes by Means of Air Brakes (open access)

A Brief Study of the Speed Reduction of Overtaking Airplanes by Means of Air Brakes

"As an aid to airplane designers interested in providing pursuit airplanes with decelerating devices intended to increase the firing time when overtaking another airplane, formulas are given relating the pertinent distances and speeds in horizontal flight to the drag increase required. Charts are given for a representative parasite-drag coefficient from which the drag increase, the time gained, and the closing distance may be found. The charts are made up for three values of the ratio of the final speed of the pursuing airplane to the speed of the pursued airplane and for several values of the ratio of the speed of the pursued airplane to the initial speed of the pursuing airplane" (p. 1).
Date: May 1942
Creator: Pearson, H. A. & Anderson, R. F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Development of Satisfactory Flying Qualities on the Douglas Dive Bomber, Model SBD-1 Through Flight Testing Successive Modifications in Control-Surface Area, Hinge-Line Location, and Aerodynamic-Balance Nose Shape (open access)

The Development of Satisfactory Flying Qualities on the Douglas Dive Bomber, Model SBD-1 Through Flight Testing Successive Modifications in Control-Surface Area, Hinge-Line Location, and Aerodynamic-Balance Nose Shape

Report presenting flight-test data contributing to the development of the present SBD-1 flying qualities based on the interest expressed in the methods used to obtain control-force characteristics on the Douglas Model SBD-1 by minor relocation of control-surface hinge line in combination with modifications in the aerodynamic balance nose shape. Results regarding the stalling characteristics, lateral-directional stability and control, longitudinal stability and control, and design recommendations are provided.
Date: May 1942
Creator: Root, L. E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
High-Speed Tests of a Ducted Body with Various Air-Outlet Openings (open access)

High-Speed Tests of a Ducted Body with Various Air-Outlet Openings

Test of a ducted body with Internal flow were made in the 8-foot high-speed wind tunnel for the purpose of studying the effects on external drag and an critical speed of the addition of efficient inlet and outlet openings to a basic streamline shape. Drag tests of a 13.6- inch-diameter streamline body of fineness ratio 6.14 were made at Mach numbers ranging from 0.20 to 0.75. The model was centrally mounted on a 9-percent-thick airfoil and was designed to have an efficient airfoil-body juncture and a high critical speed.
Date: May 1942
Creator: Becker, John V. & Baals, Donald D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
High-speed tests of radial-engine nacelles on a thick low-drag wing (open access)

High-speed tests of radial-engine nacelles on a thick low-drag wing

Report presenting testing in the high-speed wind tunnel to determine the drag characteristics of several types of radial-engine nacelle on a low-drag airfoil. The drag coefficients of nacelles incorporating cowling-nose shapes shown by previous tests to be efficient and afterbodies of adequate length were about the same magnitude as commonly obtained for comparable installations on conventional wings. Results regarding the reduction of data, effect of nacelles on lift, and pressures at wing-nacelle juncture are provided.
Date: May 1942
Creator: Becker, John V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Observations of the Improvement in Vision Brought About by the Application of a Rain-Repellent Lacquer on an Airplane Windshield (open access)

Observations of the Improvement in Vision Brought About by the Application of a Rain-Repellent Lacquer on an Airplane Windshield

"A rain-repellent lacquer was submitted to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics by Captain K.H. Kalberer, of Lorr Laboratories, and preliminary tests and observations have been made to determine its value in improving the vision through an airplane windshield during rain. The tests and observations were carried out at Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, Moffett Field, California, over a period of about a week. The results are reported herein" (p. 2).
Date: May 1942
Creator: McAvoy, William H. & Clousing, Lawrence A.
System: The UNT Digital Library