A Flight Investigation of the Lateral Control Characteristics of Short Wide Ailerons and Various Spoilers With Different Amounts of Wing Dihedral (open access)

A Flight Investigation of the Lateral Control Characteristics of Short Wide Ailerons and Various Spoilers With Different Amounts of Wing Dihedral

This report presents the results of flight tests made to determine the lateral control characteristics of short wide ailerons and spoilers, as a consequence of the promise shown in wind-tunnel tests by these devices as means of obtaining lateral control, particularly at angles of attack above the stall. Several forms of spoilers, front-hinge, rear-hinge, plain retractable, and saw-tooth retractable were tested alone and in combination with the ailerons. The tests were made with several different amounts of wing dihedral so that the effect of the yawing moments of the different lateral control combinations, which varied from large negative to large positive values, could be evaluated. In conjunction with the tests, observations were made to throw some light on the feasibility of operating the airplane with two controls instead of the present three.
Date: May 19, 1934
Creator: Weick, Fred E.; Soulé, Hartley A. & Gough, Melvin N.
System: The UNT Digital Library
On the Theory of Laminar Boundary Layers Involving Separation (open access)

On the Theory of Laminar Boundary Layers Involving Separation

"This paper presents a mathematical discussion of the laminar boundary layer, which was developed with a view of facilitating the investigation of those boundary layers in particular for which the phenomenon of separation occurs. The treatment starts with a slight modification of the form of the boundary layer equation first published by Von Mises. Two approximate solutions of this equation are found, one of which is exact at the outer edge of the boundary layer while the other is exact at the wall" (p. 541).
Date: May 22, 1934
Creator: von Karman, T. & Millikan, C. B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Improved airplane windshields to provide vision in stormy weather (open access)

Improved airplane windshields to provide vision in stormy weather

This report presents the results of wind tunnel tests to determine possible improvements in the design of airplane windshields, particularly with respect to the pilot's vision from the cabin in stormy weather.
Date: May 23, 1934
Creator: Clay, William C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tests in the variable-density wind tunnel of related airfoils having the maximum camber unusually far forward (open access)

Tests in the variable-density wind tunnel of related airfoils having the maximum camber unusually far forward

A family of related airfoils having the position of maximum camber unusually far forward was investigated in the variable-density tunnel as an extension of the study recently completed of a large number of related airfoils. The new airfoils gave improved characteristics over those previously investigated, especially in regard to the pitching moment. Some of the new sections are markedly superior to well-known and commonly used sections and should replace them in applications requiring a slightly cambered section of moderate thickness having a small pitching-moment coefficient.
Date: May 7, 1935
Creator: Jacobs, Eastman N. & Pinkerton, Robert M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Investigation of Full-Scale Split Trailing-Edge Wing Flaps With Various Chords and Hinge Locations (open access)

Investigation of Full-Scale Split Trailing-Edge Wing Flaps With Various Chords and Hinge Locations

This report gives the results of an investigation conducted in the NACA full-scale wind tunnel on a small parasol monoplane equipped with three different split trailing-edge wing flaps. The object of the investigation was to determine and correlate data on the characteristics of the airplane and flaps as affected by variation in flap chord, flap deflection, and flap location along the wing chord. The results give the lift, the drag, and the pitching moment characteristics of the airplane, and the flap forces and moments, the pressure distribution over the flaps and wing at one section, and the downwash characteristics of the flap and wing combinations.
Date: May 10, 1935
Creator: Wallace, Rudolf
System: The UNT Digital Library
Propulsion of a flapping and oscillating airfoil (open access)

Propulsion of a flapping and oscillating airfoil

Formulas are given for the propelling or drag force experience in a uniform air stream by an airfoil or an airfoil-aileron combination, oscillating in any of three degrees of freedom; vertical flapping, torsional oscillations about a fixed axis parallel to the span, and angular oscillations of the aileron about a hinge.
Date: May 4, 1936
Creator: Garrick, I. E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Full-scale tests of NACA cowlings (open access)

Full-scale tests of NACA cowlings

A comprehensive investigation has been carried on with full-scale models in the NACA 20-foot wind tunnel, the general purpose of which is to furnish information in regard to the physical functioning of the composite propeller-nacelle unit under all conditions of take-off, taxiing, and normal flight. This report deals exclusively with the cowling characteristics under condition of normal flight and includes the results of tests of numerous combinations of more than a dozen nose cowlings, about a dozen skirts, two propellers, two sizes of nacelle, as well as various types of spinners and other devices.
Date: May 18, 1936
Creator: Theodorsen, Theodore; Brevoort, M. J. & Stickle, George W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effect of Compressibility on Eight Full-Scale Propellers Operating in the Take-Off and Climbing Range (open access)

The Effect of Compressibility on Eight Full-Scale Propellers Operating in the Take-Off and Climbing Range

"Tests were made of eight full-scale propellers of different shape at various tip speeds up to about 1,000 feet per second. The range of blade-angle settings investigated was from 10 degrees to 30 degrees at the 0.75 radius. The results indicate that a loss in propulsive efficiency occurred at tip speeds from 0.5 to 0.7 the velocity of sound for the take-off and climbing conditions" (p. 517).
Date: May 18, 1938
Creator: Biermann, David & Hartman, Edwin P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Determination of boundary-layer transition on three symmetrical airfoils in the NACA full-scale wind tunnel (open access)

Determination of boundary-layer transition on three symmetrical airfoils in the NACA full-scale wind tunnel

For the purpose of studying the transition from laminar to turbulent flow, boundary-layer measurements were made in the NACA full-scale wind tunnel on three symmetrical airfoils of NACA 0009, 0012, and 0018 sections. The effects of variations in lift coefficient, Reynolds number, and airfoil thickness on transition were investigated. Air speed in the boundary layer was measured by total-head tubes and by hot wires; a comparison of transition as indicated by the two techniques was obtained. The results indicate no unique value of Reynolds number for the transition, whether the Reynolds number is based upon the distance along the chord or upon the thickness of the boundary layer at the transition point. In general, the transition is not abrupt and occurs in a region that varies in length as a function of the test conditions.
Date: May 26, 1938
Creator: Silverstein, Abe & Becker, John V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
An investigation of the drag of windshields in the 8-foot high-speed wind tunnel (open access)

An investigation of the drag of windshields in the 8-foot high-speed wind tunnel

Report presents the results of tests made to determine the drag of closed-cockpit and transport-type windshields. The tests were made at speeds corresponding to a Mach number range of approximately 0.25 to 0.58 in the NACA 8-foot high-speed wind tunnel. This speed range corresponds to a test Reynolds number range of 2,510,000 to 4,830,000 based on the mean aerodynamic chord of the full-span model (17.29 in.). The shapes of the windshield proper, the hood, and the tail fairing were systematically varied to include common types and refined design.
Date: May 22, 1939
Creator: Robinson, Russell G. & Delano, James B.
System: The UNT Digital Library