Evening star., 1939-05-07

Basic aeronautical research, far from
being the prosaic, stodgy thing it sounds.
may hold the key not only to national
security in world Of turmoil and con-
fusion but also may open the doors to q
f1guratively new world for mankind
Long recognized as a national necessity,
the type Of research conducted by the
National Advisory Committee for Aero
nautics has come within recent months
national well-being.
Aviation, because of the profound
effect it has had in shaping world events
during the past several years, has been
characterized by Federal leaders as "the
most important thing in the world to-
day." Basic aeronautical research, &C.
cording to Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, is
the keystone of the whole aviation arch
"A thing of more primary Importance
to the, United States than even the great
air defense program upon which we now
are embarking. His opinion is sup
ported by growing experience.
And so, at its Langley Memorial Lab
oratories, Langley Field. Va, the N. A. c..
A. today is intensifying its study of the
fundamental physical laws which not
only make flying possible, but which
make it faster, more efficient, safer and
Of increased worth to the Nation and
the human race.
Despite the accent on the military in
these troublous times, research with a
strictly military accent is only part
possibly even a minor part-of the N. A..
G. A. program. OF course, its findings,
since they deal with basic laws, are ap-
plicable to all forms Of flight, civil as
well as military.
Work Shown to 400 Leaders.
During the past week more than 400
of the Nations aviation leaders made
their annual visit to Langley Field as
the guests of the N. A. c. A. to witness
recent developments in research and to
participate in the dedication of two new
wind tunnels, both the first of their
kind in the world and both holding
promise of large results.
These leaders saw new type of air
plane wing so much more efficient than
any now known that it promises to re-
duce by two-thirds the drag, or resist
ance to passage through the air. of the
present akplane wing The new wing
Is based on previously untested theories
of the cause Of the transition effect from
smooth air flow over wing surface to
a turbulent, eddying flow. One of the
battling mysteries in the field of aero
dynamic research, the cause of this tran
sition appears to have been found and
overcome and air friction over the wing
has been reduced to levels never before
expected. 1t was reported. Regarded as
one OF the great contributions to avia-
ton science in the past decade, full ap-
pication Of the new principle of wing
design is expected to reduce tremen-
dously the horsepower required to pro-
pei the modern airplane.
They saw proof that the little under
stood "shock wave" created when air flow
approaches the speed of sound-at about
75O miles per hour-already has become
a barrier to further increases in airplane
speeds and must be overcome at once.
Elimination or Delay Sought.
Because air must be compressed as
it is violently spread to make way for
the passage of an airplane, modern air.
planes at speeds Of $50 miles per hour
and up already are creating shock waves
around local points Of their structures
around propeller hubs, windshield cor
ners, engine cowlings. When this occurs
. tremendous turbulence Is set up, si1n-