Several improvements that have been made on commercially available carbon-monoxide indicators to make them more suitable for aircraft use are described. These improvements include an automatic flow regulator, which permits the use of a simplified instrument on aircraft where a source of suction is available, and a more reliable alarm attachment. A field method for testing instruments on standard samples of carbon monoxide is described. Performance data and instructions in operation and maintenance are given.

"This report describes methods used by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics to study visually the air flow around airplanes. The use of streamers, oil and exhaust gas streaks, lampblack and kerosene, powdered materials, and kerosene smoke is briefly described. The generation and distribution of smoke from candles and from titanium tetrachloride are described in greater detail because they appear most advantageous for general application. Examples are included showing results of the various methods" (p. 1).

"This report presents the results of tests of a Powerplus supercharger and a comparison of its performance with the performance previously obtained with an N.A.C.A. Roots-type supercharger. The Powerplus supercharger is a positive displacement blower of the vane type having mechanically operated vanes, the movement of which is controlled by slots and eccentrics. The supercharger was tested at a range of pressure differences from 0 to 15 inches of mercury and at speeds from 500 to 2,500 r.p.m." (p. 1).

A description of a special type of seismograph, called a "landing-shock recorder," to be used for measuring the acceleration during impacts such as are experienced in airplane landings, is given . The theory, together with the assumptions made, is discussed in its relation to calculating the acceleration experienced in impact. Calculations are given from records obtained for two impacts of known acceleration. In one case the impact was very severe and in the other it was only moderately severe.

Four models with longitudinal steps on the forebody were developed by modification of a model of a conventional hull and were tested in the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) tank. Models with longitudinal steps were found to have smaller resistance at high speed and greater resistance at low speed than the parent model that had the same afterbody but a conventional V-section forebody. The models with a single longitudinal step had better performance at hump speed and as low high-speed resistance except at very light loads. Spray strips at angles from 0 degrees to 45 degrees to the horizontal were fitted at the longitudinal steps and at the chine on one of the two step models having two longitudinal steps. The resistance and the height of the spray were less with each of the spray strips than without; the most favorable angle was found to lie between 15 degrees and 30 degrees.

"A method of determining the moments of inertia of an airplane from design data pertaining to the weights and locations of the component parts is described. The computations required to ascertain the center-of-gravity position are incorporated with the calculations of moments of inertia. A complete set of data and calculations for a modern airplane is given to illustrate the procedure. From a comparison between calculated values and measured values it is believed that the moments of inertia can be estimated within 10 percent by the use of this method" (p. 1).

Note presenting an investigation undertaken to answer the question of what cycle of heat phases should be selected for small high speed engines running on solid or airless injection with compression ignition, and what the relative proportions of the heat phases should be.

The results presented in this note show the effect of twist and sweepback on the span load distribution over two monoplane wing models. The tests were made in the Atmospheric Wind Tunnel of the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory. The data are taken from the results of an investigation dealing primarily with lateral stability. As presented, they are suitable as an aid in the structural design of certain monoplane wings.

This report is on the changes in forces on each wing of a biplane cellule when either the stagger or the gap is varied. Since each test was carried up to a 90 degree angle of attack, the results may be used in the study of stalled flight and of spinning as well as in the structural design of biplane wings.

The results of tests to determine the effect of wheel brakes on the landing run of an airplane under conditions of load and at various wind velocities are presented.

"This investigation on the relative wear of several bearing materials lubricated by gasoline was conducted at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, as part of a general research on fuel injection engines for aircraft. The specific purpose of the work was to find a durable bearing material for gear pumps to be used for the delivery of gasoline and diesel engine fuel oil at moderate pressures to the high pressure pumps of fuel injection engines" (p. 1).

This note describes tests of the drag due to a Wright "Whirlwind" (J-5) radial air-cooled engine mounted on a cabin type airplane. The tests were made in the 20-foot Propeller Research Tunnel of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The drag was obtained with three different types of exhaust stacks: Short individual stacks, a circular cross section collector ring, and a streamline cross section collector ring.

"The various speeds of an airplane can only be measured in horizontal flight, since there are no means for measuring the angle of ascent or descent. The measurements must be corrected for the density of the air. This is obtained by simultaneous pressure and temperature measurements during flight" (p. 1).

A review of various methods to prevent ice formation and adhesion to aircraft surfaces is given. It was concluded that the adhesion of ice to a surface may be reduced somewhat by the application of certain waxes and varnishes. In the experiments described, the varnishes containing calcium stearate and calcium oleate gave the best results. In wind tunnel tests, the adhesion was further reduced by the application of these waxes and varnishes to a thin, heat insulating layer of rubber.

Discussed here is the suggested installation of the 'unbalanced' 8-cylinder VE-engine. The suggestion was that a flexible mounting be used instead of bolting the engine rigidly to the airplane structure. It was concluded that a flexible connection between the engine and the airplane is probably possible. A flexible connection primarily diminishes the vibrations due to inertia and, to a lesser degree, those due to torque variation. However, engines vibrate more when freely suspended than when rigidly mounted, and this vibration has a detrimental effect on all connections between the engine and the airplane. Therefore, in view of the relatively insignificant advantages which may be derived from the elastic suspension of the engine, the present rigid mounting is to be preferred. Vibration reduction can be achieved by incorporating in the fuselage as many of the rigid airplane parts as possible.

Report presenting exact and approximate methods based on linearized supersonic flow theory for the calculation of the velocity potential and the downwash from thin wings of arbitrary plan form. The applicability of the method inherently depends on a knowledge of the load distribution over the plan form of the wing.

Note presenting equations derived for the prediction of velocity distributions for fully developed adiabtic turbulent flow in smooth tubes; both the incompressible and compressible flow cases were treated. The analysis produced a single equation that represents flow in both the conventional buffer layer and the laminar layer. The results for fully developed flow were correlated by using conventional dimensionless velocity and distance parameters, and agreed closely with those of Nikuradse and other investigators.

"A study is made of the effect of variation in diameter and pitch of A17S-T4 aluminum-alloy flat-head rivets on the average stress at maximum load for 24S-T3 and 75S-T6 aluminum-alloy, flat, Z-stiffened panels that fail by local instability. A curve is presented for determining the diameter and pitch required to insure the development of a given average stress for local instability" (p. 1).

Report presenting some simple approximate solutions that are derived for the relationships between rotor thrust and flight path velocity components and the rotor blade angle, torque, and in-plane forces.

Report presenting generalized expressions in closed form obtained for the characteristics due to control-surface deflection and wing angle of attack for wing plan forms with triangular-tip control surfaces at supersonic speeds. Charts are presented for the deflection characteristics for configurations having the sweep of the wing and control-surface trailing edges equal and for the location of the hinge line for balanced controls.

"A theoretical solution is obtained for the problem of the shear buckling of infinitely long simply supported elastic Metalite type sandwich plates. An approximate correction is suggested for the determination of the critical shear stresses of plates that buckle in the plastic range" (p. 1).

Report presenting an investigation of seven hot-pressed ceramics for possible gas-turbine application. The properties, short-time tensile strength, thermal-shock resistance, coefficient of liner expansion, and density were determined. The ceramics tested were magnesium oxide, titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, boron carbide, silicon carbide with boron carbide, zircon, and zirconia with lime.

Note presenting an approximate method developed to predict the location of detached shock waves ahead of two-dimensional and axially symmetric bodies. The method is based on the continuity relation, which is applied to the air that passes the sonic line.

Report presenting testing of five NACA airfoil sections intended for use in rotor blades in the two-dimensional low-turbulence tunnel. The airfoils varied in thickness and theoretical design lit coefficients. Results regarding pitching moment, lift, drag, and helicopter performance calculations are provided.