An Experimental Investigation of Several Low-Drag Wing-Nacelle Combinations with Internal Air Flow

The results of an experimental investigation of several low-drag wing-nacelle combinations, incorporating internal air-flow systems, are presented. The external-drag increments due to these nacelles are between one-half and two-thirds of those of conventional nacelle forms. This improvement is accomplished with only minor effects on the lift and moment characteristics of the wing. The procedure employed to determine the external shape of such low-drag nacelles is considered in detail. The design of an efficient internal-flow system with or without a blower or throttle, presents no serious problems. The energy losses in the expansion before the engine and the contraction thereafter can be kept small. It is believed that these nacelles have a wide application in housing engine pusher-propeller units and, with some alteration, jet-propulsion devices. It is probable that the low external drags may not be realized if such nacelles are used with a tractor propeller because of the high level of turbulence in the propeller slipstream.