Donaldson, Coleman DUP.

NASA NTRS1987

From earth to orbit in a single stage

The National Aerospace Plane (NASP) program's preliminary analyses indicate that the ability to reach orbit is governed by average thrust/drag, average propulsion efficiency, and the ratio of takeoff fuel weight to total takeoff weight; examinations of each of the governing parameters have in turn pointed to the technology development efforts that must be undertaken for the realization of such a single-stage-to-orbit airbreathing vehicle. The key to the achievement of high thrust/drag, in particular, is the integration of engine intake compression and exhaust expansion functions with the airframe. The portion of the vehicle cross-sectional area thus employed in leading the airstream into the engine inlet should be as close to 100 percent as possible.

Jones, Robert A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The effect of heavy rain on an airfoil at high lift

No serious studies of the relationship of heavy rain to aircraft safety were made until 1981 when it was suggested that the torrential rain which often occurs at the time of severe wind shear might substantially increase the danger to aircraft operating at slow speeds and high lift in the vicinity of airports. While these data were not published until early 1983, appropriate measures were taken by NASA to study the effect of heavy rain on the lift of wings typical of commercial aircraft. One of the aspects of these tests that seemed confirmed by the data was the existence of a velocity effect on the lift data. The data seemed to indicate that when all the normal non-dimensional aerodynamic parameters were used to sort out the data, the effect of velocity was not accounted for, as it usually is, by the effect of dynamic pressure. Indeed, the measured lift coefficients at high lift indicated a dropoff in lift coefficient for the same free-stream water content as velocity was increased. indicated a drop-off in lift coefficient for the same free-stream water content as velocity was increased.

Donaldson, Coleman DUP.↗