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The Drawing of Experimental Curves

Description: This report presents a discussion of how to determine the location of a line or surface from experimental data. What we desire to know practically is the number of ordinates required to obtain a certain probable precision in drawing a line or surface.
Date: July 1921
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Art of Writing Scientific Reports

Description: As the purpose of the report is to transmit as smoothly and as easily as possible, certain facts and ideas, to the average person likely to read it, it should be written in a full and simple enough manner to be comprehended by the least tutored, and still not be boring to the more learned readers.
Date: March 1921
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Photographic Recording of Small Motions

Description: Methods and equipment for recording small and sometimes rapid motions by photographic means are described, and the efficacy of photographic recording in such instances is evaluated. The optical system consisting of the light source, the mirror or prism for transmitting motion to the emergent beam, and a means of bringing the rays into focus on the film are discussed. Attention is given to the critical issue of mirror mounting.
Date: November 1920
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Design of Recording Wind Tunnel Balances

Description: Given here is a description of the design of a scientific recording wind tunnel balance. It was decided that the most satisfactory arrangement would be a rigid ring completely surrounding the tunnel or wind stream, so that the model could be supported from it by wires or any arrangement of spindles. The forces and moments acting on this ring can then be recorded by suitable weighing apparatus. The methods available for recording forces on the arms are explained. The proposed type of balance wil… more
Date: December 1920
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Factors That Determine the Minimum Speed of an Airplane

Description: The author argues that because of a general misunderstanding of the principles of flight at low speed, there are a large number of airplanes that could be made to fly several miles per hour slower than at present by making slight modifications. In order to show how greatly the wing section affects the minimum speed, curves are plotted against various loadings. The disposition of wings on the airplane slightly affects the lift coefficient, and a few such cases are discussed.
Date: March 1921
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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An Investigation on the Effect of Raked Wing Tips

Description: This investigation was carried out by request of the United States Air Service in the wind tunnel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The results are here published by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics as it is thought that they may be of general interest. Wings of the R.A.F. 6 section are tested with various angles of rake, and it is found that although rake has very little effect, a positive or negative rake of 30 degrees is the best.
Date: November 1921
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Effect of Staggering a Biplane

Description: This investigation was carried out by request of the United States Air Service at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology wind tunnel in 1918. As the data collected may be of general interest, they are published here by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The lift, drag, and center of pressure travel are determined for a biplane with a stagger varying from +100% to -100%. It is found that the efficiency and the maximum lift increase with positive stagger.
Date: September 1921
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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N.A.C.A. control position recorder

Description: Report discussing a new instrument is described which is capable of simultaneously recording the position of the three controls of an airplane. The records are taken photographically on a standard N.A.C.A. film drum and the instrument can be quickly installed in any airplane.
Date: May 1922
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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A Preliminary Investigation of a New Method for Testing Aerofoils in Free Flight

Description: "This report is a description of a new method of testing aerofoils in free flight devised by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The method consists in lowering below a flying airplane a large inverted aerofoil on three small steel wires in such a way that the lift on the aerofoil always keeps the wires tight. The resultant force is measured by the tension in the wires, and the direction of the resultant by the amount the wing trails backwards" (p. 1).
Date: January 1922
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Pressure Distribution Over the Wings of an MB-3 Airplane in Flight

Description: "This investigation was carried out to determine the distribution of load over the wings of a high speed airplane under all conditions of flight. In particular it was desired to find the pressure distribution during level flight, over the portions of the wings in the slipstream and, during violent maneuvers, over the entire wing surface. The method used consisted in connecting a number of holes in the surface of the wings to recording multiple manometers mounted in the fuselage of the airplane.… more
Date: 1925
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Pressure Distribution Over the Horizontal Tail Surfaces of an Airplane

Description: "This work was undertaken to determine as completely as possible the distribution of pressure over the horizontal tail surfaces of an airplane, and to analyze the relation of this pressure to the structural loads and the longitudinal stability. The investigation is divided into three parts, of which this the first. The first part of the investigation is for the purpose of determining the pressure distribution over two horizontal tail surfaces in uniform free flight; the second part to conduct t… more
Date: 1923
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Practical Stability and Controllability of Airplanes

Description: "The effect of the characteristics of an airplane on balance, stability, and controllability, based on free flight tests, is discussed particularly in respect to the longitudinal motion. It is shown that the amount of longitudinal stability can be varied by changing the position of the center of gravity or by varying the aspect ratio of the tail plane, and that the stability for any particular air speed can be varied by changing the camber of the tail plane. It is found that complete longitudin… more
Date: 1923
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Measurement of the Damping in Roll on a JN4h in Flight

Description: "This investigation was carried out by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics for the purpose of measuring the value of L sub P in flight. The method consisted in flying with heavy weights on each wing tip, suddenly releasing one of them, and allowing the airplane to roll up to 90 degrees with controls held in neutral while a record was being taken of the airspeed, and angular velocity about the X axis. The results are of interest as they show that the damping found in the wind tunnel … more
Date: 1924
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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A Study of Longitudinal Dynamic Stability in Flight

Description: "This investigation was carried out by the aerodynamic staff of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics for the purpose of studying experimentally the longitudinal dynamic stability of airplanes in flight. The airplanes selected for this purpose were a standard rigged VE-7 advanced-training airplane and a JN4H with special tail surfaces. The airplanes were caused to oscillate by means of the elevator, then the longitudinal control was either locked or kept free while the oscillation die… more
Date: 1924
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Small Angular Oscillations of Airplanes in Steady Flight

Description: "This investigation was carried out by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics at the request of the Army Air Service to provide data concerning the small angular oscillations of several types of airplanes in steady flight under various atmospheric conditions. The data are of use in the design of bomb sights and other aircraft instruments. The method used consisted in flying the airplane steadily in one direction for at least one minute, while recording the angle of the airplane with th… more
Date: 1924
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Efficiency of Small Bearings in Instruments of the Type Used in Aircraft

Description: This report deals with the construction and properties of bearings and pivots for use in instruments. The static and running friction for both thrust and radial loads was determined for a number of conical pivots and cylindrical and ball bearings. The static rocking friction was also measured for several conical and ball bearings under a heavy load, especially to determine their suitability for use in N. P. L. (National Physical Laboratory) type wind tunnel balance.
Date: 1920
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The aerodynamic properties of thick aerofoils suitable for internal bracing

Description: From Introduction: "The object of this investigation was to determine the characteristics of various types of wings having sufficient depth to entirely inclose the wing bracing, and also to provide data for the further design of such sections. Results of the investigation of the following subjects are given: (1) effect of changing the upper and lower camber of thick aerofoils of uniform section; (2) effect of thickening the center and thinning the tips of a thin aerofoil; (3) effect of adding a… more
Date: 1920
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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N.A.C.A. Recording Air Speed Meter

Description: A new type of air speed meter is described which was designed by the technical staff of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The instrument consists essentially of a tight metal diaphragm of high natural period which is acted upon by the pressure difference of a pitot-static head. The resulting deflection of this diaphragm is recorded optically on a moving film.
Date: October 1921
Creator: Norton, F. H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The effect of longitudinal moment of inertia upon dynamic stability

Description: "Free flight tests were carried out to show whether the longitudinal oscillations of a standard S.E.5A airplane are noticeably affected if its longitudinal moment of inertia is increased. These oscillations were taken by means of a self-recording instrument, the airplane having first its ordinary moment of inertia and then one increased by 14 percent. The period of oscillation was slightly longer after the increase of the moment of inertia, but the damping was not affected" (p. 1).
Date: October 1922
Creator: Norton, F. H. & Carroll, T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The vertical, longitudinal, and lateral accelerations experienced by an S. E. 5a airplane while maneuvering

Description: "This investigation was carried out by the Langley Field Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics for the purpose of measuring the accelerations along the three principal axes of an airplane while it was maneuvering. The airplane selected for this purpose was the fairly maneuverable SE-5A and the instruments used were the NACA three component accelerometer and the NACA recording airspeed meter. The results showed that the normal accelerations did not exceed 4.000 G. While t… more
Date: 1924
Creator: Norton, F. H. & Carroll, T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The optical wing aligning device of the Langley Field tunnel

Description: Described here is a convenient and accurate method of aligning the wing chord with the airflow. The device was developed to permit rapid and accurate alignment of airfoils and models with the airstream passing through the tunnel. It consists of three main parts: a projector, a reflector, and a target. The arrangement, which is shown in a figure, has proven satisfactory in operation. It is far better than the old method of sighting across a long batten, as the operator of a balance may see the t… more
Date: January 1921
Creator: Norton, F. H. & Bacon, D. L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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N.A.C.A. Langley field wind tunnel apparatus: The tilting manometer

Description: A description is given of a tilting manometer designed to meet the requirements of a manometer for use in the wind tunnel at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory. This gauge was designed to meet the requirements of a manometer in use in connection with a static pressure plate to indicate the wind speed in the tunnel. The requirements are noted. The sensitivity of the gauge must be made inversely proportional to the pressure to be measured. The gauge must be accurately and quickly set fo… more
Date: January 1921
Creator: Norton, F. H. & Bacon, D. L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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A Preliminary Study of Airplane Performance

Description: Flight tests were carried out at the Langley Field laboratory of the NACA, on several airplanes for the purpose of determining their relative performance with the same engine and the same propeller. The method used consisted in flying each airplane on a level course and measuring the airspeed for the whole range of engine revolutions. In general the results show that a small change in the wing section or the wing area has but a slight effect upon the performance, but changes in those parts whic… more
Date: November 1922
Creator: Norton, F. H. & Brown, W. G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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