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The Spinning of Aeroplanes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

Extract

Apart from the subject of straight normal flight and all the problems of stability and performance concerned with it, more thought has been given to the spin than to any other form of motion of an aeroplane. The reasons for this are not far to seek. The spin is the evolution which, until the recent introduction of certain well known methods of lateral control and stabilisation, invariably followed the loss of control at speeds below the stall, and its occurrence near the ground has been responsible for the majority of fatal flying accidents.

It is the only form of stable uncontrolled motion which is exhibited by an aeroplane other than that which it may possess in straight flight. This stability has in a number of cases proved extremely dangerous, if not fatal, as in prolonged spins on certain aeroplanes it has been found impossible to recover.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1931

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References

Note on page 610 1 Instantaneously may be taken to mean within say 1 turn.

Note on page 611 2 Spinning Stability of F.E.8. Appendix I. R.&M. 618. “ Investigation of the spin of an Aeroplane.” Glauert. Lindemann and Harris.

Note on page 612 3 Bristol Fighter. “Experiments on the Spinning of a Bristol Fighter Aeroplane.” K. V. Wright. R.&M. 1261

Note on page 612 4 See Appendix.

Note on page 613 5 See Appendix.

Note on page 613 6 Where the edge of a wood, a river or some similar well defined line is not available for counting, the reflection of the sun as it strikes the lower plane is extremely useful for this purpose.

Note on page 615 7 See Appendix.

Note on page 615 8 “The present Status of Research on Aeroplane Spinning.” F. E. Weick.

Note on page 615 9 See Appendix.

Note on page 617 10 See Appendix.

Note on page 618 11 See Appendix.

Note on page 619 12 “Army Air Corps Experiments on Tail Spins.” H. A. Sutton. American Society of Automotive Engineers.

Note on page 619 13 See Appendix.

Note on page 619 14 “The Spinning of Aeroplanes.” Gates&Bryant. R.&M. 1001.

Note on page 620 15 “Measurement of Moments of Inertia of Full-scale Aeroplanes.” M. W. Green.

Note on page 621 16 R.&M. 1261. “Experiments on the Spinning of a Bristol Fighter Aeroplane.” K. V. Wright, B.A.

Note on page 622 17 “Applied Aerodynamics.” L. Bairstow.

Note on page 622 18 Aircraft Design Memo. 131.

Note on page 622 19 “The Spinning of Aeroplanes.” Gates&Bryant. R.&M. 1001.

Note on page 623 20 “The Spinning of Aeroplanes.“ Gates&Bryant. R.&M. 1001.