W.H. Mason
This is a collection of reports that can be obtained from the NASA Tech Report Server for students (and others). The purpose is two fold. First, they provide real data for students to examine to understand airplane aerodynamics. The second purpose is to provide data for use in comparing aerodynamic estimates made with various computational tools. This list will be updated frequently. As always I welcome suggestions.
The reports listed here provide enough detail that computational models can be made.
Last modified March 15, 2019
Piper Comanche
Martin P. Fink, Delma C. Freeman, Jr., and H. Douglas Greer, “Full-Scale Wind-Tunnel Investigation of the Static Longitudinal and Lateral Characteristics of a Light Single-Engine Airplane,” NASA TN D-5700, March 1970.
Cessna Cardinal C-177RG (no strut)
H. Douglas Greer, James P. Shivers, Martin P. Fink, and C. Robert Carter, “Wind-Tunnel Investigation of Static Longitudinal and Lateral Characteristics of a Full-Scale Mockup of a Light Single-Engine High-Wing Airplane”, NASA TN D-7149, May 1973.
Lear Jet Model 23
Paul T. Soderman and Thomas N. Aiken, “Full-Scale Wind-Tunnel Tests of a Small Unpowered Jet Aircraft With a T-Tail,” NASA TN D-6573, November 1971.
F-16
Nguyen, L.T., Ogburn, M.E., Gilbert, W.P., Kibler, K.S., Brown, P.W., and Deal, P.L., “Simulator Study of Stall/Post-Stall Characteristics of a Fighter Airplane With Relaxed Static Stability,” NASA TP-1538, Dec. 1979.
North American XB-70
This massive study arose after it was found that the actual aircraft range was 25 percent less that the predicted range (Fitz Fulton, NASA TM X-56014). It provides an extensive examination of wing tunnel and flight test results and is a good case study.
James C. Daugherty, “Wind-Tunnel/Flight Correlation Study of Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Large Flexible Supersonic Cruise Airplane (XB-70-1) I. Wind Tunnel Tests of a 0.03-Scale Model at Mach Numbers From 0.6 to 2.53” NASA TP 1514, November 1979.
John B. Peterson, Jr., Michael J. Mann, Russell B. Sorrels III, Wallace C. Sawyer, and Dennis E. Fuller, “Wind-Tunnel/Flight Correlation Study of Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Large Flexible Supersonic Cruise Airplane (XB-70-1) II. Extrapolation of Wind Tunnel Data to Full-Scale Conditions” NASA TP 1515, February 1980.
Henry H. Arnaiz, John B. Peterson, Jr., and James C. Daugherty, “Wind-Tunnel/Flight Correlation Study of Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Large Flexible Supersonic Cruise Airplane (XB-70-1) III. A Comparison Between Characteristics Predicted From Wind-Tunnel Measurement and Those Measured in Flight”, NASA TP 1516, March 1980.