Wind-Tunnel Investigation of the Spinning Characteristics of a Model of a Twin-Tail Low-Wing Personal-Owner-Type Airplane With Linked and Unlinked Rudder and Aileron Controls

Abstract

A spin investigation has been conducted in the Langley 20-foot free-spinning tunnel of a model of a twin-tail low-wing personal-owner-type airplane with linked and unlinked rudder and aileron controls. The model was tested for two wing loadings and three mass distributions. The results obtained when the rudders and ailerons were linked for two control operation indicated that the model generally would not spin. The spins that were obtained were steep, and the test results indicated that full reversal of the controls from any spinning condition would result in satisfactory recovery. A study of the individual effects of rudders and ailerons at the loadings showed that when a spin was obtained the inboard aileron (right aileron in a right spin) when deflected up was largely responsible for maintaining the spin. The results indicated that a reverse differential aileron system having the up aileron movement limited to a very small deflection would be effective in preventing the spin. The outboard (left rudder in a right spin) was the more effective rudder in terminating or maintaining the spin, and differential rudder deflections which maintained the outboard rudder at or near neutral were particularly effective in preventing the attainment of spinning equilibrium.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1948
Accession Number
ADA380681

Entities

People

  • Lawrence J. Gale
  • Walter J. Klinar

Organizations

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Aeronautical Laboratories
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Airplanes
  • Aspect Ratio
  • Center Of Gravity
  • Deflection
  • Flight
  • Fuselages
  • Inboard
  • Leading Edges
  • Outboard
  • Photographs
  • Recovery
  • Scale Models
  • Wind Tunnels

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.
  • Control Systems Engineering.