Evening star., 1936-12-27

use of monoplane types with inn
proved aerodynamical design, from
improvement of material, and of en-
gineering practices, and from the in
creased power now available in Our
latest aircraft engines.
The aircraft squadrons operating
from carriers have become an indis-
pensable arm of the feet. These
airplanes not only can scout wide
areas around the feet, but are able
to add materially to the offensive
power of the feet with their in
creasingly large numbers of fast
bomberS and torpedo planes.
Probably the most important ad-
vance, however, in feet aircraft is in
the new patrol bombers now being
delivered to the fleet. Although pa
troll planes were developed during
the World War, and have operated
with the fleet almost continuously
since that time, their limited per-
formance in the past has restricted
their operations to within a few num-
dred miles of our coasts. The new
patrol bombers, capable of flying
several thousand miles and of carry
ing large loads of bombs, will place
new and most effective long range
weapon at the disposal of the feet
and may be destined to play a large
part in naval warfare of the future.
BY JOHN F. VICTORY,
Secretary, National Advisory Commit
tee for AeronduticS.
The facilities Of the N. A. C. A. for
fundamental scientific research in
aeronautics were improved notably
during 1886 by the completion of
the 8-foot, 500-mile- per hour wind
tunnel. Work was also started on the
lengthening of the N. A. C. A. tank
from 1000 to 1900 feet and on the
construction of a new large pressure.
type wind tunnel, which will make
available more accurate data for
designers.
BY placing instruments in passen.
ger transports and experimental air.
planes, the committee is collecting
data from which it will be possible to
calculate accurately the air loads i'm
posed on wings and tail surfaces. This
is essential to insure greater structural
integrity of the airplane when en-
countering gusts or undergoing rapid
maneuvers.
In order to safely reduce the land.
ing speed and to improve lateral con.
troll at low speed, the committee has
Investigated in its wind tunnels nu-
merous wing accessories, such as slots,
flaps, auxiliary airfoils and spoilers.
Investigations have been conducted
to determine the best fuselage shapes
and the optimum fuselage and wing
combinations from the viewpoint OF
least drag. Allied with this research
is the performance testing of seaplans
hulls and floats in the committees
tank to evolve a design having mini.
mum water resistance and satisfactory
take-off and landing characteristics
In view Of the general use of the
N. A. C. A. 23012 wing section and OF
wings Of tapered plan form and thick
ness, investigations have been made
to determine the characteristics Of
this type Of wing.
The cowling and cooling of radical
aircraft engines have been further
investigated and data made available
to designers so that they can. with 9
reasonable degree of assurance, pro.
vide battles and cowls on engine in.
stallations permitting more adequate
cooling with less drag.
Investigations have also been con.
Quoted on the tricycle. landing gear
for airplanes. The main landing
wheels are back of the center OF
gravity and a castoring wheel is placed
in the nose of the fuselage. This type
of landing gear eliminates ground
looping under practically all landing
conditions and is particularly suitable
for blind landings.
The committee has developed q
technique to determine the spinning
characteristics of airplanes before
they are constructed, by testing dy-
namically similar models in the free.
spinning tunnel. This assures the
of dangerous spins and
the provision of controls adequate to
pull out Of any type of spin.