An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the effect of changes in shape of the rear fuselage of an airplane on ditching behavior. The basic fuselage used in the investigation was a streamline body of revolution. Variations in longitudinal curvature of the bottom of the fuselage were obtained by sweeping up or sweeping down the rear half of the center line. A change in rear-fuselage cross section was obtained by splitting the center line in the plan view. Most of the tests were made with a fuselage of fineness ratio 6, but some tests were made with a fuselage of fineness ratio 9 in order to determine, the effect of a change in fuselage fineness ratio. The models were landed in calm water at the Langley tank no. 2 monorail at speeds of 30, 40, 50, and 60 feet per second.nThe behavior of the models was recorded with a high-speed motion-picture camera. The motion-picture records were analyzed and the data obtained are presented as curves of speed, attitude, and center-of-gravity height plotted against time;in bar graphs;and in tabular form.
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