Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Mcavoy, W H.
Systematic flight investigation of the spinning characteristics of various airplanes over a period of several years have given the pilots engaged in the testing a varied and extensive experience. From this experience certain general rules of procedure have been formulated, particularly for the sequence of operation of the controls in recovery from spins, and are recommended to the attention of all pilots.
This report presents the results of flight tests made on five different lateral control devices that appeared adaptable to wings fitted with full span flaps: controllable auxiliary airfoils (airfoils mounted above and forward of the leading edge of the wings), external ailerons (airfoils mounted above the wing and slightly forward of its maximum ordinate), upper-surface ailerons (similar to split trailing-edge flaps except that they constitute the upper surface of the wing), ailerons that retract into the wing when in neutral, and narrow-chord conventional ailerons in combination with a special type of split flap that retracts into the under surface of the wing forward of the ailerons. The devices were tested on a small parasol monoplane. Experienced gained in the use of flaps during these tests has indicated the desirability of a flap that can be operated quickly and easily.