High-Speed Wind-Tunnel Tests of a 1/16-Scale Model of the D-558 Research Airplane Lift and Drag Characteristics of the D-558-1 and Various Wing and Tail Configurations

Tests were made in the Langley 8-foot high-speed tunnel to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of the D-558-1 airplane and various wing and tail configurations on the D-558-1 fuselage. The various wing and tail configurations were tested to determine the aerodynamic effects of aspect ratio and sweep for suitable use on the second phase of the D-558 project (D-558-2). The tests were conducted through a speed range from a Mach number of 0.40 to approximately 0.94.This part of the investigation includes the lift and drag results available for the configurations tested at this rate. The D-558-1 results indicated that the lift force break would occur at a Mach number of 0.85 with some reduction in lift at speeds above this Mach number. Tests indicated that the airplane will have satisfactory lift and drag characteristics up to and including its design Mach number of 0.85. The 35deg sweptback, 35deg swept-forward, and low-aspect-ratio (2.0) wing configurations all showed pronounced improvements in maintaining lift throughout the Mach number range tested and in increasing the critical speeds above the D-558-1 value &itical to critical Mach numbers on the order of 0.9. Insofar as lift and drag characteristics are concerned level flight at speeds approaching the velocity of sound appears practical if swept or low-aspect-ratio configurations similar to those tested are used.