Landing Vertical Velocity and Acceleration Measurements of Berlin Airlift C-54 Aircraft

摘要

Photographic records of landings of the Berlin Airlift with C-54 aircraft have been analyzed. The results have consisted of sinking speeds, accelerations, horizontal speeds, and wing load factors at touchdown during landing. The analysis has been conducted for the purpose of obtaining accessory data that can be used in arriving at a design criterion for the selection of limit sinking speeds of land based aircraft. The probability of equalling or exceeding a given sinking speed or horizontal speed has been calculated and presented in curve form. The limitations of the results concerning the extension of the data to cases not included in the analysis have been indicated. The nature and scope of further sampling have been discussed. Suggestions have been made concerning the usage of this and future data. (Author)