Engineering topics

Mcmasters, J. H.

Publications and source records attributed to Mcmasters, J. H..

3 records

NASA NTRS1979

The ultralight sailplane

As presently envisioned, the ultralight sailplane is intermediate in size, cost and performance between current hang gliders and the lower end of the traditional sailplane spectrum. In the design of an ultralight sailplane, safety, low cost, and operational simplicity were emphasized at the expense of absolute performance. An overview of the design requirements for an ultralight sailplane is presented. It was concluded that by a judicious combination of the technologies of hang gliding, human powered flight, conventional soaring and motor gliding, an operationally and economically viable class of ultralight, self-launching sailplanes can be developed.

Mcmasters, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Low-speed single-element airfoil synthesis

The use of recently developed airfoil analysis/design computational tools to clarify, enrich and extend the existing experimental data base on low-speed, single element airfoils is demonstrated. A discussion of the problem of tailoring an airfoil for a specific application at its appropriate Reynolds number is presented. This problem is approached by use of inverse (or synthesis) techniques, wherein a desirable set of boundary layer characteristics, performance objectives, and constraints are specified, which then leads to derivation of a corresponding viscous flow pressure distribution. Examples are presented which demonstrate the synthesis approach, following presentation of some historical information and background data which motivate the basic synthesis process.

Mcmasters, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Possible applications of soaring technology to drag reduction in powered general aviation aircraft

A brief examination of the performance figures achieved by modern soaring machines and a little reflection on the often huge disparity in L/D values between sailplanes and GA aircraft indicates that careful attention to lessons learned in sailplane design and manufacture hold realistic promise for substantial gains in the aerodynamic efficiency of several GA types.

Mcmasters, J. H.↗