Drag measurements of two thin wing sections at different index values (open access)

Drag measurements of two thin wing sections at different index values

It is stated that the index value 6000, as found in normal tests of wing sections with a 20 cm chord, falls in the same region where the transition of laminar to turbulent flow takes place on thin flat plates. It is to be expected that slightly cambered, thin wing sections will behave similarly. The following test of two such wing sections were made for the purpose of verifying this supposition.
Date: June 1927
Creator: Ackeret, J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Experiments on airfoils with trailing edge cut away (open access)

Experiments on airfoils with trailing edge cut away

"Airfoils with their trailing edge cut away are often found on aircraft, as the fins on the hulls of flying boats and the central section of the wings for affording better visibility. It was therefore of some interest to discover the effect of such cutaways on the lift and drag and on the position of the center of pressure. For this purpose, systematic experiments were performed on two different airfoils, a symmetrical airfoil and an airfoil of medium thickness, with successive shortenings of their chords" (p. 1).
Date: September 1927
Creator: Ackeret, J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Air Cooling: An Experimental Method of Evaluating the Cooling Effect of Air Streams on Air-Cooled Cylinders (open access)

Air Cooling: An Experimental Method of Evaluating the Cooling Effect of Air Streams on Air-Cooled Cylinders

In this report is described an experimental method which the writer has evolved for dealing with air-cooled engines, and some of the data obtained by its means. Methods of temperature measurement and cooling are provided.
Date: May 1927
Creator: Alcock, J. F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The N.A.C.A. photographic apparatus for studying fuel sprays from oil engine injection valves and test results from several researches (open access)

The N.A.C.A. photographic apparatus for studying fuel sprays from oil engine injection valves and test results from several researches

"Apparatus for recording photographically the start, growth, and cut-off of oil sprays from injection valves has been developed at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory. The apparatus consists of a high-tension transformer by means of which a bank of condensers is charged to a high voltage. The controlled discharge of these condensers in sequence, at a rate of several thousand per second, produces electric sparks of sufficient intensity to illuminate the moving spray for photographing. The sprays are injected from various types of valves into a chamber containing gases at pressures up to 600 pounds per square inch" (p. 361).
Date: May 25, 1927
Creator: Beardsley, Edward G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Experiments on Airfoils With Aileron and Slot (open access)

Experiments on Airfoils With Aileron and Slot

The present report contains the results of a few experiments on three airfoils to which the rear portions, having chords respectively 1/4, 1/3, and 2/5 of the total chords, are hinged so as to form ailerons, especial attention being given to the shape of the slot between the aileron and the main portion of the aileron.
Date: November 1927
Creator: Betz, A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Recent Suggestions in Diesel-Engine Construction (open access)

Recent Suggestions in Diesel-Engine Construction

Different methods for increasing the efficiency of diesel engines are presented and some new designs are given.
Date: August 1927
Creator: Bielefeld, F. Ernst
System: The UNT Digital Library
Calculating Thrust Distribution and Efficiency of Air Propellers (open access)

Calculating Thrust Distribution and Efficiency of Air Propellers

I am now proposing a method for the preliminary approximate calculation of the thrust distribution and efficiency of air propellers under any operating conditions. Our task becomes the following, namely, to determine the speed relations and the forces developed on a section with a given direction and velocity of the air current, a problem which can be solved with the aid of the momentum theory.
Date: December 1927
Creator: Bienen, Theodor
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Corrosion of Magnesium and of the Magnesium Aluminum Alloys Containing Manganese (open access)

The Corrosion of Magnesium and of the Magnesium Aluminum Alloys Containing Manganese

"The extensive use of magnesium and its alloys in aircraft has been seriously handicapped by the uncertainties surrounding their resistance to corrosion. This problem has been given intense study by the American Magnesium Corporation and at the request of the Subcommittee on Materials for Aircraft of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics this report was prepared on the corrosion of magnesium" (p. 419).
Date: 1927
Creator: Boyer, J. A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Pressure distribution over airfoils at high speeds (open access)

Pressure distribution over airfoils at high speeds

This report deals with the pressure distribution over airfoils at high speeds, and describes an extension of an investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of certain airfoils which was presented in NACA Technical Report no. 207. The results presented in report no. 207 have been confirmed and extended to higher speeds through a more extensive and systematic series of tests. Observations were also made of the air flow near the surface of the airfoils, and the large changes in lift coefficients were shown to be associated with a sudden breaking away of the flow from the upper surface. The tests were made on models of 1-inch chord and comparison with the earlier measurements on models of 3-inch chord shows that the sudden change in the lift coefficient is due to compressibility and not to a change in the Reynolds number. The Reynolds number still has a large effect, however, on the drag coefficient. The pressure distribution observations furnish the propeller designer with data on the load distribution at high speeds, and also give a better picture of the air-flow changes.
Date: 1927
Creator: Briggs, L. J. & Dryden, H. L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Aero Dopes and Varnishes (open access)

Aero Dopes and Varnishes

Report discussing before proceeding to discuss the preparation of dope solutions, it will be necessary to consider some of the essential properties which should be possessed of a dope film, deposited in and on the surface of an aero fabric. The first is that it should tighten the material and second it should withstand weathering.
Date: July 1927
Creator: Britton, H. T. S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Electrical characteristics of spark generators for automotive ignition (open access)

Electrical characteristics of spark generators for automotive ignition

From Summary: "This paper reports the results of an extensive program of measurements on 11 ignition systems differing widely in type. The results serve primarily to give representative data on the electric and magnetic constants of such systems, and on the secondary voltage produced by them under various conditions of speed, timing, shunting resistance, etc. They also serve to confirm certain of the theoretical formulas which have been proposed to connect the performance of such systems with their electrical constants, and to indicate the extent to which certain simplified model circuits duplicate the performance of the actual apparatus."
Date: 1927
Creator: Brode, R. B.; Randolph, D. W. & Silsbee, F. B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tables for calibrating altimeters and computing altitudes based on the standard atmosphere (open access)

Tables for calibrating altimeters and computing altitudes based on the standard atmosphere

From Summary: "During 1925 the assumption of an isothermal atmosphere which was in general use as the standard for the calibration of altimeters in the United States was replaced by a standard atmosphere which assumes an altitude-temperature relation closely corresponding to the average of upper air observations at latitude 40 degrees in this country. The same standard atmosphere had already been adopted somewhat earlier in the United States as the aircraft performance standard. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Technical Reports nos. 147 and 218 give necessary constants, tables, and information. However, neither of these reports includes all of the tables required for the computation of actual altitudes nor those readily suitable for use in calibrating altimeters, since the altitude intervals for which data are given are not sufficiently small."
Date: 1927
Creator: Brombacher, W. G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Safety in Airplane Flight (open access)

Safety in Airplane Flight

This report presents methods to reduce the incidence of aviation accidents. Some of the methods discussed include enlistment and training of aviators, improvement of controls and control surfaces, and upgrading of power plants.
Date: November 1927
Creator: Brunat, H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Building a Full-Size Glider (open access)

Building a Full-Size Glider

The building and flying of a glider is possible for anyone who can use a few basic tools. This report presents some plans and techniques for building your own glider.
Date: September 1927
Creator: Camm, F. J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Aerodynamic laboratory at Cuatro Vientos (open access)

Aerodynamic laboratory at Cuatro Vientos

This report presents a description of the design of the Cuatro Vientes wind tunnel.
Date: June 1927
Creator: Caracciolo, Moreno
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Comparison of the Take-Off and Landing Characteristics of a Number of Service Airplane (open access)

A Comparison of the Take-Off and Landing Characteristics of a Number of Service Airplane

"This investigation, which is a continuation of Technical Report 154, follows very closely the earlier methods and covers a number of service airplanes, whereas the previous report covered but one, the JN-4H. In addition to the air speed, acceleration, and control positions as given in report no. 154, information is here given regarding the distance run and the ground speed for the various airplanes during the two maneuvers" (p. 457).
Date: 1927
Creator: Carroll, Thomas
System: The UNT Digital Library
Characteristics of Five Propellers in Flight (open access)

Characteristics of Five Propellers in Flight

"This investigation was made for the purpose of determining the characteristics of five full-scale propellers in flight. The equipment consisted of five propellers in conjunction with a VE-7 airplane and a Wright E-2 engine. The propellers were of the same diameter and aspect ratio. Four of them differed uniformly in thickness and pitch and the fifth propeller was identical with one of the other four with exception of a change of the airfoil section" (p. 267).
Date: November 8, 1927
Creator: Crowley, J. W., Jr. & Mixson, R. E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Characteristics of a twin-float seaplane during take-off (open access)

Characteristics of a twin-float seaplane during take-off

This report presents the results of an investigation of the planing and get-away characteristics of three representative types of seaplanes, namely, single float, boat, and twin float. The experiments carried out on the single float and boat types have been reported on previously. This report covers the investigation conducted on the twin-float seaplane, the DT-2, and includes as an appendix, a brief summary of the results obtained on all three tests. At low-water speeds, 20 to 30 miles per hour, the seaplane trims by the stern and has a high resistance. Above these speeds the longitudinal control becomes increasingly effective until, with corresponding speeds of 56 to 46 miles per hour. It was further determined that an increase in the load caused little if any change in the water speed at which the maximum angle and resistance occurred, but that it did produce an increase in the maximum angle.
Date: January 1927
Creator: Crowley, John W., Jr. & Ronan, K. M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The effect of flight path inclination on airplane velocity (open access)

The effect of flight path inclination on airplane velocity

This report was prepared at the request of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in order to supply a systematic study of the relations between the flight velocity V and its horizontal component V subscript H, in power glides. Curves of V and V subscript H plotted against the inclination of the flight path 0 are given, together with curves which show the maximum values of V subscript H and the corresponding values of 0. Curves are also given showing the effect of small departures from the horizontal in high speed performance testing.
Date: January 1927
Creator: Diehl, Walter S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tests on airplane fuselages, floats and hulls (open access)

Tests on airplane fuselages, floats and hulls

This report is a compilation of test data on airplane fuselages, nacelles, airship cars, seaplane floats, and seaplane hulls, prepared by the Bureau of Aeronautics, at the requests of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The discussion of the data includes the derivation of a scale correction curve to be used in obtaining the full scale drag. Composite curves of drag and L/D for floats and hulls are also given. (author).
Date: January 1927
Creator: Diehl, Walter S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Three methods of calculating range and endurance of airplanes (open access)

Three methods of calculating range and endurance of airplanes

This report develops new equations which give the range and endurance of airplanes with an accuracy equal to that obtained from a step-by-step integration of the flight. A method of obtaining equally satisfactory results from Brequet's equations is also given in detail. A third method of calculating range and endurance, derived by the writer for use in routine estimating in the Bureau of Aeronautics, is also given in full. The reports contains tables and curves arranged for convenient use and illustrates the three methods by comparative estimates.
Date: January 1927
Creator: Diehl, Walter S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
"A L C L A D": A New Corrosion Resistant Aluminum Product (open access)

"A L C L A D": A New Corrosion Resistant Aluminum Product

Described here is a new corrosion resistant aluminum product which is markedly superior to the present strong alloys. Alclad is a heat-treated aluminum, copper, manganese, magnesium alloy that has the corrosion resistance of pure metal at the surface and the strength of the strong alloy underneath. Of particular importance is the thorough character of the union between the alloy and the pure aluminum.
Date: August 1927
Creator: Dix, E. H., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Multiplicity of Solutions in Aerodynamics (open access)

Multiplicity of Solutions in Aerodynamics

"One of the most striking phenomena which accompany the flow of fluids such as air and water about bodies, is that of changes in character. This phenomena is still very little understood. We will first discuss the nature of these changes and then show that pure theory leads to a multiplicity of characters of flow, among which we will endeavor to indicate those bearing some analogy to experimental results" (p. 1).
Date: May 1927
Creator: Dupont, M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Interaction between air propellers and airplane structures (open access)

Interaction between air propellers and airplane structures

From Summary: "The purpose of this investigation was the determination of the character and amount of interaction between air propellers as usually mounted on airplanes and the adjacent parts of the airplane structure - or, more specifically, those parts of the airplane structure within the wash of the propeller, and capable of producing any significant effect on propeller performance. In report no. 177 such interaction between air propellers and certain simple geometrical forms was made the subject of investigation and report. The present investigation aims to carry this general study one stage further by substituting actual airplane structures for the simple geometrical forms."
Date: 1927
Creator: Durand, W. F.
System: The UNT Digital Library