Flight Investigation of Transient Wing Response on a Four-Engine Bomber Airplane in Rough Air With Respect to Center-of-Gravity Accelerations

In continuation of flight studies of transient wing response initiated on a two-engine transport airplane, a flight investigation was undertaken on a four-engine bomber airplane to determine the effect of transient wing response in rough air upon acceleration measurements at the center of gravity of the airplane. Flights were made in clear-air turbulence for two speed and two weight conditions. Simultaneous acceleration measurements were taken at the center of gravity and at several stations along the wing span from which the true airplane acceleration was determined. An analysis of the results indicated that the recorded center-of-gravity acceleration increments were, on the average, equal to the true airplane acceleration increment amplified by a factor of approximately 1.28 and further increased by approximately 0.01 g. Within the accuracy of the results, there were no important changes in this relationship that could be attributed to variations in speed and weight.