The preliminary calculation of the airplane polar and hence of the flight performances and characteristics rests on the assumption of an elliptical lift distribution at all altitudes. For large angles of attack below C(sub a (sub max)), this method of calculation yields no satisfactory agreement with measurements made in flight. An attempt is made to eliminate the errors in the preliminary calculation by the assumption of a disturbance of the lift distribution in this angle-of-attack range, which is so important for the constructor. An explanation is also given of the great differences found in flight with and without propeller slipstream.

This report presents a description, diagrams and photographs of the Charlestop remote brake system. A description of the brake system and diagrams showing the individual components are provided.

Presented here are the results of performance tests made with a single-cylinder, four stroke cycle, compression-ignition engine. These tests were made on a precombustion chamber type of cylinder head designed to have air velocity and tangential air flow in both the chamber and cylinder. The performance was investigated for variable load and engine speed, type of fuel spray, valve opening pressure, injection period and, for the spherical chamber, position of the injection spray relative to the air flow. The pressure variations between the pear-shaped precombustion chamber and the cylinder for motoring and full load conditions were determined with a Farnboro electric indicator. The combustion chamber designs tested gave good mixing of a single compact fuel spray with the air, but did not control the ensuing combustion sufficiently. Relative to each other, the velocity of air flow was too high, the spray dispersion by injection too great, and the metering effect of the cylinder head passage insufficient. The correct relation of these factors is of the utmost importance for engine performance.

"This investigation was conducted in the refrigerated wind tunnel at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, Langley Field, Va., to determine a suitable method for preventing the formation of ice on the vents of airplane gasoline tanks. Tests were made on a variety of vent forms arranged in a number of different orientations relative to the direction of the air stream. Both the size of the tube and its orientation were found to be of great importance. Small tubes, under equal circumstances, were found to freeze over far more rapidly than large ones" (p. 1).

"High-speed motion pictures were taken of individual fuel sprays from a pump injection system. The changes in the spray-tip penetration with changes in the pump speed, injection-valve opening and closing pressures, discharge-orifice area, injection-tube length and diameter, and pump throttle setting were measured. In addition, the effects of the variables on the time lag and duration of injection can be controlled by the dimensions of the injection tube, the area of the discharge orifice, and the injection-valve opening and closing pressures" (p. 1).

From Introduction: "This paper endeavors to collect and describe all of the work in proper order, as briefly as is consistent with a good understanding thereof, and attempts to evaluate it in the light of present-day knowledge derived from large and small scale experiments in the United States and foreign countries."

The outstanding quantity of the whole atomization problem is the characteristic K, and therefore the ratio of the static pressure of the air stream with respect to the liquid to the surface tension of the liquid. The higher its value, the better the atomization. The shape of the Venturi tube plays a secondary role. The increase of section beyond the throat had best not be too abrupt.

The formula for the impact of floats must include the enlargement factor itself as well as the type of enlargement. The latter is preferably characterized by the change in surface loading. It is shown that the enlargement of a small seaplane generally results in a changed float (or boat) loading as well as wing loading. The conditions of starting stipulate the retention of the float loading when changing from single-float (boat) to twin-float arrangement. This contingency is followed by an increased impact factor in the twin-float type against the otherwise equivalent single-float type.

This report considers two different explanations for propeller breaks caused by propeller flutter. The two possibilities are combined vibrations of the blade, similar to those of the wings, which develop by absorbing energy from the air stream and converting it into vibrations without the aid of any periodic external disturbance. The other possibility examined is forced vibrations, which are produced in every structure by periodically variable impulses. Such vibrations are especially dangerous when the disturbing impulses which cause them have a frequency equal to the natural frequency of the system.

"A critical study was made of the operation of a type of back-fire arrester used to reduce the fire hazard of aircraft engines. A flame arrester consisting of a pack or plug of alternate flat and corrugated plates of thin metal was installed in the intake pipe of a gasoline engines; an auxiliary spark plug inserted in the intake manifold permitted the production of artificial back fires at will. It was found possible to design a plug which prevented all back fires from reaching the carburetor" (p. 211).

This report outlines the development of a general theory for the calculation of the effect of the boundaries of the air stream on the flow past an airfoil. Analytical treatments are given for tunnels with horizontal boundaries only, with vertical boundaries only, and with a bottom boundary only. Formulas are developed for the tunnel wall interference in each case for an airfoil located at the center of the tunnel. The correction is given as a function of the width to height ratio of the tunnel.

This report presents a description of the 7 by 10 foot wind tunnel and associated apparatus of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Included also are calibration test results and characteristic test data of both static force tests and autorotation tests made in the tunnel.

"The pressure distribution data discussed in this report represents the results of part of an investigation conducted on the factors affecting the aerodynamic safety of airplanes. The present tests were made on semispan, circular-tipped Clark Y airfoil models mounted in the conventional manner on a separation plane. Pressure readings were made simultaneously at all test orifices at each of 20 angles of attack between -8 degrees and +90 degrees. The results of the tests on each wing arrangement are compared on the bases of maximum normal force coefficient, lateral stability at a low rate of roll, and relative longitudinal stability. Tabular data are also presented giving the center of pressure location of each wing" (p. 315).