The measurement of the damping in roll on a JN4h in flight

Abstract

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 by the method of small oscillations is in general 40 per cent higher than the damping in flight. At 50 M. P. H. The flight curve of L sub P has a high peak, which is not indicated in the model results. It is also shown that at this speed the lateral maneuverability is low.