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Subsonic Aircraft Drag: An Appreciation of Present Standards

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

A. B. Haines
A. B. Haines*
Affiliation:
Aircraft Research Association
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Summary

The drag at cruise CL of a number of recent aircraft—mostly large subsonic transports—has been analysed in terms of figures-of-merit derived from Melvill Jones’ original concept of a streamline aeroplane. The values have been compared with those for some representative aircraft from the 1930-1940 period. The paper then proceeds to highlight some of the main sources of excess drag; for the recent aircraft, these are grouped under broad headings such as “excrescences”, “Mach-number effects” and “nacelle installation or interference”.

The results of the analysis are somewhat disturbing. Perhaps the most striking feature, bearing in mind that only a restricted class of aircraft have been considered, is the very wide spread between the figures for the poorest and the best of the recent aircraft. Also, the detailed drag breakdown varies widely from one aircraft to another. The evidence in the paper suggests that, in many cases, present drag standards can and should be improved.

Type
Supplementary Papers
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 72 , Issue 687 , March 1968 , pp. 253 - 266
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1968 

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