MONOGRAPHS IN AEROSPACE HISTORY #13

A History of Suction-Type
Laminar-Flow Control
with Emphasis on
Flight Research

by
Albert L. Braslow
i
A History of Suction-Type
Laminar-Flow Control
with Empahsis on
Flight Research

by
Albert L. Braslow

NASA History Division

Office of Policy and Plans
NASA Headquarters
Washington, DC 20546

Monographs in
Aerospace History
Number 13
1999

ii
 Table of Contents

Foreword.........................................................................................................................iv

Preface .............................................................................................................................v

Laminar-Flow Control Concepts and Scope of Monograph ...........................................1

Early Research on Suction-Type Laminar-Flow Control

Research from the 1930s through the War Years ......................................................3
Research from after World War II to the Mid-1960s ................................................5

Post X-21 Research on Suction-Type Laminar-Flow Control

Hiatus in Research ..................................................................................................13
Resumption of Research .........................................................................................13
Research from the Mid-1970s to the Mid-1990s ....................................................16
Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) on Swept Wings: F-111/TACT and F-14 .....................17
Noise: Boeing 757...................................................................................................18
Insect Contamination: JetStar .................................................................................20
Leading-Edge Flight Test (LEFT) Program: JetStar...............................................21
Surface Disturbances: JetStar .................................................................................26
Atmospheric Ice Particles: Boeing 747s and JetStar ..............................................28
Hybrid Laminar-Flow Control (HLFC): Boeing 757 .............................................29
Supersonic Laminar-Flow Control: F-16XL ..........................................................32

Status of Laminar-Flow Control Technology in the Mid-1990s ...................................34

Glossary.........................................................................................................................35

Documents

Document 1 –Aeronautics Panel, AACB, R&D Review, Report of the

Subpanel on Aeronautical Energy Conservation/Fuels .........................38

Document 2 –Report of Review Group on X-21A Laminar Flow

Control Program .....................................................................................46

Document 3 –Langley Research Center Announcement: Establishment

of Laminar Flow Control Working Group..............................................61

Document 4 –Intercenter Agreement for Laminar Flow Control

Leading Edge Glove Flights, LaRC and DFRC .....................................62

Document 5 –Flight Report, NLF-144, of AFTI/F-111 Aircraft with

the TACT Wing Modified by a Natural Laminar Flow Glove ...............66

Document 6 –Flight Record, F-16XL Supersonic Laminar Flow

Control Aircraft ......................................................................................71

Index ..............................................................................................................................76

About the Author ...........................................................................................................78

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 Foreword

Laminar-flow control is an area of aeronautical research that has a long history

at NASA’s Langley Research Center, Dryden Flight Research Center, their
predecessor organizations, and elsewhere. In this monograph, Albert L.
Braslow, who spent much of his career at Langley working with this research,
presents a history of that portion of laminar-flow technology known as active
laminar-flow control, which employs suction of a small quantity of air through
airplane surfaces. This important technique offers the potential for significant
reduction in drag and, thereby, for large increases in range or reductions in fuel
usage for aircraft. For transport aircraft, the reductions in fuel consumed as a
result of laminar-flow control may equal 30 percent of present consumption.

Given such potential, it is obvious that active laminar-flow control with suction
is an important technology. In this study, Al covers the early history of the
subject and brings the story all the way to the mid-1990s with an emphasis on
flight research, much of which has occurred here at Dryden. This is an impor-
tant monograph that not only encapsulates a lot of history in a brief compass but
also does so in language that is accessible to non-technical readers. NASA is
publishing it in a format that will enable it to reach the wide audience the
subject deserves.

Kevin L. Petersen
Director, Dryden Flight Research Center
February 18, 1999

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 Preface

This monograph is the result of a contract with the NASA Dryden History
Office to write a brief history of laminar-flow-control research with an emphasis
on flight research, especially that done at what is today the Dryden Flight
Research Center (DFRC). I approached the writing of this history from the
perspective of an engineer who had spent much of his career working on lami-
nar-flow-control research and writing about the results in technical publications.
I found out that writing history is quite a bit different from technical writing, but
I hope that what I have written will explain laminar-flow control to the non-
technical reader while at the same time providing historical background to the
interested technical reader.

After completion of the final draft of this technical history in October 1998, I
was made aware of NASA TP-1998-208705, October 1998, by Ronald D.
Joslin, entitled Overview of Laminar Flow Control. Although some overlap
exists between this publication and my own, as would be expected from the two
titles, Joslin’s intent was quite different from mine. He provides an extensive
technical summary for engineers, scientists and technical managers of the
content of many key papers without much evaluation of the significance of
specific results over the years.

I would like to express my gratitude to the following DFRC personnel: David

Fisher, Lisa Bjarke, and Daniel Banks for reading the initial draft; Jim Zeitz for
reworking the figures; and Stephen Lighthill for doing the layout. My special
thanks go to J.D. (Dill) Hunley, DFRC historian, who patiently guided this
technical author through the vagaries of historical composition.

Albert L. Braslow
Newport News, Virginia
19 February 1999

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 Laminar-Flow Control Concepts and an essential part, and the remaining region
A Scope of Monograph outside the boundary layer where friction
History of may be neglected. The boundary layer
This monograph presents a history of generally exists in one of two states:
Suction- suction-type laminar-flow-control re- laminar, where fluid elements remain in
search in the National Advisory Commit- well-ordered nonintersecting layers
Type tee for Aeronautics and its successor (laminae), and turbulent, where fluid
Laminar- organization, the National Aeronautics elements totally mix. The frictional force
and Space Administration, plus selected between the fluid and the surface, known
Flow other organizations, with an emphasis on as viscous drag, is much larger in a
Control flight research. Laminar-flow control is a turbulent boundary layer than in a laminar
technology that offers the potential for one because of momentum losses associ-
improvements in aircraft fuel usage, ated with the mixing action. The energy
range or endurance that far exceed any required to overcome this frictional force
known single aeronautical technology. on an airplane is a substantial part of the
For transport-type airplanes, e.g., the fuel total energy required to move the airplane
burned might be decreased a phenomenal through the air. In the case of a transport
30 percent. Fuel reduction will not only airplane flying at subsonic speeds, for
help conserve the earth’s limited supply example, approximately one-half of the
of petroleum but will also reduce engine energy (fuel) required to maintain level
emissions and, therefore, air pollution. In flight in cruise results from the necessity
addition, lower fuel usage will reduce the to overcome the skin friction of the
operating costs of commercial airplanes boundary layer, which is mostly turbulent
at least eight percent, depending upon the on current transport-size airplanes.
cost of the fuel and, therefore, will curtail The state of the boundary layer, in the
ticket prices for air travel. Laminar-flow absence of disturbing influences, is
control is also the only aeronautical directly related to the speed of the surface
technology that offers the capability of and the distance along the surface—first,
designing a transport airplane that can fly laminar and then changing to turbulent as
nonstop without refueling from anywhere the speed or distance increases. Laminar
in the world to anywhere else in the world flow is difficult to attain and retain under
or that can remain aloft without refueling most conditions of practical interest, e.g.,
for approximately 24 hours. These on the surfaces of large transport air-
enormous performance improvements planes. Laminar flow is an inherently
that are potentially available for commer- unstable condition that is easily upset, and
cial or military applications, therefore, transition to turbulent flow may occur
have made the concept the “pot of gold at prematurely as a result of amplification of
the end of the rainbow” for aeronautical disturbances emanating from various
researchers. sources. Two basic techniques are avail-
A brief review of some of the funda- able to delay transition from laminar to
mentals involved will improve an under- turbulent flow—passive and active.
standing of this technological history. Laminar flow can be obtained passively
When a solid surface moves through a over the forward part of airplane lifting
fluid (such as the air), frictional forces surfaces (wings and tails) that have
drag along a thin layer of the fluid leading-edge sweep angles of less than
adjacent to the surface due to the viscos- about 18 degrees by designing the surface
ity (stickiness) of the fluid. A distin- cross-sectional contour so that the local
guished theoretician, Ludwig Prandtl, pressure initially decreases over the
showed in 1904 how the flow around a surface in the direction from the leading
solid body can be divided into two edge towards the trailing edge. The
regions for analysis—this thin layer of laminar flow obtained in this passive
fluid adjacent to the surface, called the manner is called natural laminar flow
boundary layer, where fluid friction plays (NLF). In the rearward region of well-

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1
designed wings, where the pressure must Reynolds number for different purposes. For
increase with distance towards the trailing example, non-dimensionalized aerodynamic
edge (an adverse pressure gradient),1 active forces acting on a body moving through air
laminar-flow control must be used. Even in vary with the value of the Reynolds number
a favorable pressure gradient, active based on the body length. This phenomenon
laminar-flow control is required to attain is called “scale effect” and is important in the
laminar flow to large distances from the determination of the non-dimensional
leading edge. aerodynamic forces acting on a full-size (full-
The principal types of active laminar- scale) airplane or airplane component from
flow control are surface cooling (in air) and data measured on a small wind-tunnel model.
removal of a small amount of the boundary- When engineers select the distance from the
layer air by suction through porous materi- component’s leading edge to the end of
als, multiple narrow surface slots, or small laminar flow as the representative length, the
perforations. For highly swept wings that resultant length Reynolds number (or transi-
are usually required for flight at high tion Reynolds number) is a measure of the
subsonic and supersonic speeds, only distance from the leading edge to the end of
suction can control sweep-induced the laminar flow. For any value of transition
crossflow disturbances that promote Reynolds number, then, that has been experi-
boundary-layer transition from laminar to mentally determined, the distance to the end
turbulent flow. The use of suction has of laminar flow on any size airplane compo-
become the general method of choice for nent can be calculated for any stream-flow
active laminar-flow control and has become velocity, density, and viscosity from the
known as LFC. A combination of LFC (in above Reynolds number formulation. The
regions where pressure gradients due to the attainable value of transition Reynolds
sweep introduce large destabilizing number, as previously indicated, is dependent
crossflow disturbances) and NLF (in upon the component’s geometrical shape (the
regions with low crossflow) is an approach primary controller of the variation of surface
to simplifying the application of LFC and is pressure), various disturbances, and the type
known as hybrid LFC (HLFC). Although and magnitude of laminar-flow control used.
the potential performance gains due to This monograph will review the history
HLFC are somewhat lower than those of the development of LFC and HLFC with
obtainable with LFC, the gains are still very emphasis on experimentation, especially
large. flight research. A sufficient number of
At this point, a brief description of a activities up to 1965, when a 10-year hiatus in
parameter of fundamental importance is U.S. experimental LFC research began, will
necessary for the non-technical reader. This illustrate the early progress as well as the
parameter is called Reynolds number and principal problems that inhibited the attain-
was named after Osborne Reynolds who, in ment of laminar flow in flight with either
1888, was the first to show visually the passive or active laminar-flow control.
transition from laminar to turbulent flow Discussion of a resurgence of research on
and the complete mixing of the fluid LFC in 1975 will concentrate on the flight-
elements in turbulent flow. Reynolds research portion of an American program
number is non-dimensional and is equal to defined to solve the technological problems
the product of the velocity of a body uncovered during the previous research.
passing through a fluid (v), the density of Included will be a discussion of the signifi-
the fluid (ρ) and a representative length (l) cance of aircraft size on the applicability of
divided by the fluid viscosity (µ) or v ρ 1 /µ. passive or active control.
Engineers select various representative
lengths (1) in the formulation of the

1 A decreasing pressure in the direction towards the trailing edge is called a favorable pressure gradient and an increasing
pressure is called an adverse pressure gradient.

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 Early Research on Suction-Type through slots in the surfaces of wind-
Laminar-Flow Control tunnel models. These tests provided the
first aerodynamic criteria on the design of
Research from the 1930s through the multiple suction slots and obtained
War Years laminar flow up to a length Reynolds
The earliest known experimental number of 7 million, a phenomenally
work on LFC for aircraft was done in the large value at that time. The first LFC
late 1930s and the 1940s, primarily in flight experiments ever made followed
wind tunnels.2 In 1939, research engineers these favorable results in 1941. Research-
at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical ers installed seventeen suction slots
Laboratory of the National Advisory between 20 and 60 percent of the chord3
Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in of a test panel (glove)4 on a wing of a B-
Hampton, Virginia, tested the effect on 18 airplane (Figure 1). Maximum airplane
boundary-layer transition of suction speed and constraint in the length of the

Figure 1. B-18
airplane with test
glove for natural
laminar flow and
later for active
laminar-flow
control. (NASA
photo L-25336)

2 Three citations that provide extensive bibliographies on both passive and active control of the laminar boundary layer are:
Dennis M. Bushnell and Mary H. Tuttle, Survey and Bibliography on Attainment of Laminar Flow Control in Air Using
Pressure Gradient and Suction (Washington, DC: NASA RP-1035, September 1979); Charles E. Jobe, A Bibliography of
AFFDL/FXM Reports on Laminar Flow Control ( U.S. Air Force: AFFDL-TM-76-26-FXM, March 1976); and Mary H.
Tuttle and Dal V. Maddalon, Laminar Flow Control (1976-1991) – A Comprehensive, Annotated Bibliography (Washington,
DC: NASA TM 107749, March 1993). Significant references, primarily of summary natures, that were published since these
are included in subsequent footnotes. A sparse number of technical sources already included in the bibliographies are also
repeated in subsequent notes to assist readers in locating pertinent technical information discussed in the narrative.

3 Chord is the length of the surface from the leading edge to the trailing edge.

4 A glove is a special section of an airplane’s lifting surface, usually overlaying the basic wing structure, that is designed
specifically for research purposes.

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wing glove, however, limited achievement Researchers in Great Britain obtained
of a length Reynolds number for transi- significant flight experience in the mid-
tion to a value lower than that achieved in 1940s on natural laminar-flow airfoils
the wind tunnel. with wing gloves on the British King
Experimentation in NACA on LFC Cobra and Hurricane military fighters.9
ceased during the years of World War II in Large extents of laminar flow were
order to develop natural laminar-flow obtained, but only after considerable
airfoils, the so-called NACA 6- and 7- effort to attain wave-free and smooth
series airfoils, under the leadership of surfaces. Although attainment of large
Eastman N. Jacobs, Ira H. Abbott, and regions of laminar flow was not possible
Albert E. von Doenhoff at the Langley in daily operations, aircraft designers used
Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory.5 laminar-flow type airfoils with large
Significant progress in furthering the regions of favorable pressure gradient on
understanding of the boundary-layer new aircraft intended for high-subsonic-
transition process, however, continued to speed flight because of their superior
be made in the U.S.A., both analytically high-speed aerodynamic characteristics,
and experimentally, principally at the e.g., the North American P-51 Mustang.
National Bureau of Standards by G.B. In Germany and Switzerland, efforts
Schubauer, H.K. Skramstad, P.S. to develop LFC technology with suction
Klebanoff, K.P. Tidstrom, and Hugh L. were under way during the war. The
Dryden.6 Development of the laminar- Germans emphasized the analysis of
flow airfoils was made possible by the laminar stability with continuous suction
introduction into service of the Low- rather than discrete suction through slots.
Turbulence Pressure Tunnel (LTPT) at the Walter Tollmien and Hermann Schlichting
LaRC with an exceptionally low air- discovered theoretically that the boundary
stream-turbulence level.7 The author and layer resulting from continuous suction is
Frank Visconti measured natural laminar very stable to small two-dimensional type
flow in the LTPT up to length Reynolds disturbances (named after them as
numbers on the order of 16 million.8 Tollmien-Schlichting waves)10 and that

5 In a later reorganization, the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory was renamed the Langley Research Center
(LaRC), and that name will be used hereafter to avoid possible confusion. An interim name for the Laboratory from 1948
to 1958 was the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory.

6 Dryden later became the Director of the NACA and then the first Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA).

7 A low level of high-frequency airstream turbulence, a condition approximating that in the atmosphere, is required to
obtain natural laminar flow. This turbulence, of extreme importance to NLF, contrasts with occasional low-frequency
turbulence in the atmosphere, known as gusts. Gusts affect an aircraft through changes in the relative angle of the aircraft
with respect to the direction of flight (angle of attack).

8 Albert L. Braslow and Fioravante Visconti, Investigation of Boundary-Layer Reynolds Number for Transition on an
65(215)—114 Airfoil in the Langley Two-Dimensional Low-Turbulence Pressure Tunnel (Washington, DC: NACA TN
1704, October, 1948).

9 See, for example: W.E. Gray and P.W.J. Fullam, Comparison of Flight and Tunnel Measurements of Transition on a
Highly Finished Wing (King Cobra) (RAE Report Aero 2383, 1945); F. Smith and D. Higton, Flight Tests on King Cobra
FZ. 440 to Investigate the Practical Requirements for the Achievement of Low Profile Drag Coefficients on a “Low
Drag” Aerofoil (British A.R.C., R and M 2375, 1950); R.H. Plascoff, Profile Drag Measurements on Hurricane II z.
3687 Fitted with Low-Drag Section Wings (RAE Report Aero 2153, 1946).

10 Examples of two-dimensional type disturbances are stream turbulence, noise, and surface irregularities having large
ratios of width (perpendicular to the stream flow direction) to height, like spanwise surface steps due to mismatches in
structural panels.

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 the quantity of air that must be removed on continuous suction after the war
to achieve this marked stabilizing effect is generated renewed interest in both the
extremely small. German researchers United States and the United Kingdom.11
derived methods for calculating the The NACA initiated a series of wind-
boundary-layer characteristics and drag tunnel tests at the LaRC in 1946, which
reductions resulting from continuous culminated in the attainment of full-chord
suction. The Germans also wanted to laminar flow on both surfaces of an airfoil
validate their findings experimentally but with continuous suction through a porous
were unable to produce a permeable bronze surface. The author, Dale Burrows,
surface suitable for continuous suction and Frank Visconti obtained full-chord
with the necessary degree of smoothness. laminar flow to a length Reynolds number
Alternatives were tried, i.e., suction of about 24 million, which was limited
through a perforated plate and suction only by buckling of the low-strength
through multiple slots. Suction through porous-bronze skin.12 Neal Tetervin
perforated plates failed due to excessive performed theoretical calculations indicat-
disturbances emanating from the edges of ing that the experimental suction rates
the holes. Suction through multiple slots were consistent with values predicted
permitted attainment of extensive regions from the then-available stability theory to
of laminar flow up to a length Reynolds the largest chord Reynolds number tested.
number of 3.2 million. In Switzerland, These wind-tunnel results, therefore,
Werner Pfenninger was also investigating provided the first experimental verifica-
the use of multiple suction slots. He tion of the theoretical indication that the
obtained full-chord laminar flow on both attainment of full-chord laminar flow with
surfaces of an airfoil but only up to a continuous suction would not be pre-
maximum chord (length) Reynolds vented by further increases in Reynolds
number of 2.3 million. He attributed the number, i.e., further increases in airplane
limitation in the maximum attainable size or speed (at least subsonically).13
Reynolds number for laminar flow with Because porous bronze, however, was
LFC to increased airstream turbulence in obviously unsuitable for application to
the wind tunnel. From more recent results, aircraft (low strength and large weight)
he and other researchers agree that and no suitable material was available,
increased disturbances from small irregu- work on the simulation of continuous
larities in the slot contours could have suction with multiple slots was reacti-
contributed. vated by the NACA. In the late 1940s,
NACA researchers investigated in the
LaRC LTPT an NACA design,14 and Dr.
Research from after World War II to Werner Pfenninger, who had come to the
the Mid-1960s Northrop Corporation from Zurich,
Release of the German LFC reports Switzerland, investigated a U.S. Air

11 A team of experts from the allied countries, including Eastman N. Jacobs of the NACA, gathered these reports in
Germany soon after the end of hostilities.

12 This was the author’s indoctrination into active laminar-flow control research, which followed previous involvement
in the development of the NACA natural-laminar-flow airfoils.

13 Albert L. Braslow, Dale L. Burrows, Neal Tetervin, and Fioravante Visconte, Experimental and Theoretical Studies of
Area Suction for the Control of the Laminar Boundary Layer on an NACA 64A010 Airfoil (Washington, DC: NACA
Report 1025, 30 March 1951).

14 Dale L. Burrows and Milton A. Schwartzberg, Experimental Investigation of an NACA 64A010 Airfoil Section with
41 Suction Slots on Each Surface for Control of Laminar Boundary Layer (Washington, DC: NACA TN 2644, 1952).

x5
Force-sponsored design.15 In the first case, chord in a flat pressure distribution.17
the researchers obtained full-chord Researchers obtained experimental
laminar flow up to a Reynolds number of suction rates very close to theoretical
about 10 million (greatly exceeding that values for a zero pressure gradient up to a
obtained previously in Germany and length Reynolds number of 3 million and
Switzerland), but the slot arrangement had good agreement with theory in the
been designed for a considerably larger measured boundary-layer profiles.18 The
Reynolds number of 25 million. In the experiments indicated adverse effects of
second case, Dr. Pfenninger obtained full- roughness.
chord laminar flow up to a Reynolds The British Royal Aircraft Establish-
number of 16-17 million for a model ment (RAE) tested a porous surface on a
designed for 20 million. In both of these Vampire aircraft19 starting in 1953
cases with slots, as well as during the (Figure 2). Researchers initially employed
previous continuous-suction tests, an a rolled metallic cloth for the surface, but
overriding problem in attainment of roughness picked up in the mesh caused
laminar flow was an increased sensitivity premature transition from laminar to
of laminar flow to discrete three-dimen- turbulent flow. With the use of special
sional type surface disturbances16 or slot procedures to provide very smooth
irregularities as wind-tunnel Reynolds surfaces back to 25 percent of chord, full-
number was increased. This occurred in chord laminar flow was established at a
spite of the theory, which indicated that length Reynolds number of 29 million.
suction increased the stability of the With candidates not yet available for a
laminar boundary layer with respect to practical porous surface, attention was
two-dimensional type disturbances. More diverted to simulation of a porous surface
on this subject will be included later in the with a perforated metal sheet. From 1954
monograph. to 1957, the RAE investigated various
After the war, the first work the arrangements of hole size, spacing and
British did on LFC was to extend the orientation, as did John Goldsmith at the
German analytical research on continuous Norair Division of the Northrop Corpora-
suction. In 1948, Cambridge University tion in the United States. Some worked
experimented on a flat plate in the floor of and some did not because of differences
a wind tunnel. This was followed in 1951 in disturbances generated by the suction
by flight tests on an Anson aircraft of flow through the different hole arrange-
continuous suction from 10- to 65-percent ments.20

15 Werner Pfenninger, Experiments With a 15%-Thick Slotted Laminar Suction Wing Model in the NACA, Langley Field,
Low Turbulence Wind Tunnel (U.S. Air Force Tech. Rep. 5982, April 1953).

16 Three-dimensional type surface disturbances are those with width to height ratios near a value of one.

17 M.R. Head, The Boundary Layer with Distributed Suction (British A.R.C., R.&M. No. 2783, 1955).

18 A boundary-layer profile is the shape of the variation of a boundary-layer characteristic like local velocity or tempera-
ture with height above the surface.

19 M.R. Head, D. Johnson, and M. Coxon, Flight Experiments on Boundary-Layer Control for Low Drag (British
A.R.C., R.&M. No. 3025, March 1955).

20 Significant sources are: John Goldsmith, Critical Laminar Suction Parameters for Suction Into an Isolated Hole or a
Single Row of Holes (Northrop Corp., Norair Division Report NAI-57-529, BLC-95, February 1957); N. Gregory and
W.S. Walker, Experiments on the Use of Suction Through Perforated Strips for Maintaining Laminar Flow: Transition
and Drag Measurements (British A.R.C., R.&M. No. 3083, 1958). Northrop Corp., Norair Division reports cited in this
monograph and others related to its laminar-flow research can be found in the files of Albert L. Braslow located in the
Langley Historical Archives (LHA) at the Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA.

xi
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Figure 2. Vampire
active laminar-flow-
control flight
experiments.

From 1951 to 1955, the British firm difficulty in ensuring sufficiently smooth
Handley Page tested, in wind tunnels and joints between the strips and the solid
in flight on a Vampire trainer, the concept surface. The joints introduced large
of suction strips whereby researchers enough two-dimensional type distur-
hoped to eliminate the structural difficul- bances to cause premature transition. With
ties associated with fully distributed the final perforation configuration,
suction or with the need for precise slots. researchers obtained repeatable laminar
Tests included both porous strips and flow to 80 percent of the chord on the
perforated strips with single and multiple Vampire trainer wing, equivalent to a
rows of holes. The best of the perforated length Reynolds number of 15 million. An
configurations consisted of staggered inability to obtain laminar flow in the last
multiple rows of holes. Tests of porous 20 percent of chord was attributed to the
sintered-bronze strips in both the wind effects of a forward sweep of the wing
tunnel and flight were troubled by great trailing edge.

xii
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 Previously, in 1951, the RAE had control on swept wings, the Northrop
been unable to obtain the design extent of researchers developed criteria in the areas
laminar flow on a natural laminar-flow of multiple-slot design, internal-flow
airfoil employed in a sweptback wing on metering, and duct design plus techniques
an AW52 airplane. This led to a series of for alleviating the adverse effects of
tests of sweptback surfaces of various external and internal acoustic distur-
aircraft during which visual records of bances. In addition, Northrop conducted
boundary-layer transition were obtained. analytical investigations of structural
For sufficiently large leading-edge design methods and construction tech-
sweepback, transition occurred very close niques. These were supported by a limited
to the leading edge. Subsequent tests, effort on construction and test of small-
using a flow-visualization technique, scale structural samples. The results,
showed closely-spaced striations in the however, were insufficient to provide
flow on the surface, indicating strongly transport manufacturers with confidence
that transition took place on swept that LFC wings for future transports could
surfaces as a result of formation of be manufactured to the required close
streamwise vortices in the laminar bound- tolerances for LFC with acceptable cost
ary layer.21 Dr. Pfenninger’s boundary- and weight penalties.23 An area receiving
layer research group at the Norair Divi- analytical attention only was that of the
sion of the Northrop Corporation in the suction pumping system. Although the
1950s provided a method of analyzing the suction pumping system is of significant
cross-flow instability due to sweep. It also importance to overall aircraft perfor-
obtained experimental data showing that mance, analyses indicated that no radi-
the cross-flow instability could be con- cally new mechanical developments were
trolled by reasonable amounts of suction required to provide the necessary suction.
initiated sufficiently close to the wing Northrop, in a USAF-sponsored
leading edge.22 program at Muroc Dry Lake (known both
The Northrop group in the 1950s and before and after this period as Rogers Dry
early 1960s made many other major Lake) in California, also reactivated flight
contributions to the development of the research on LFC in the United States with
LFC technology. Under a series of Air the use of a glove on an F-94 aircraft.
Force contracts, the group performed Muroc is today the site of the Edwards Air
rather extensive investigations in several Force Base and the Dryden Flight Re-
areas of concern. Although some work search Center (DFRC). Northrop investi-
was done on suction through holes, the gated three different slot arrangements on
principal efforts were on suction through a modified NACA laminar-flow airfoil
slots. In addition to the improved under- (Figure 3). Essentially full-chord laminar
standing of laminar-flow stability and flow was attained on the wing’s upper

21 W.E. Gray, The Effect of Wing Sweep on Laminar Flow (RAE TM Aero. 255, 1952).

22 W. Pfenninger, L. Gross, and J.W. Bacon, Jr., Experiments on a 30 Degree Swept, 12 Percent Thick, Symmetrical,
Laminar Suction Wing in the 5-Foot by 7-Foot Michigan Tunnel (Northrop Corp., Norair Division Report NAI-57-317,
BLC-93, February 1957).

23 Structural design of airplanes requires consideration of manufacturing procedures, capabilities, limitations, and
available materials as well as compatibility with in-service inspection, maintenance, and repair while providing a high
degree of reliability and minimization of cost and weight. Airplane weight not only directly affects an airplane’s perfor-
mance but also its total life-cycle economics through its effect on construction costs, operating costs, and perhaps
maintenance costs. The incorporation of laminar-flow control by suction imposes unique structural requirements in that
smooth, substantially wave-free external surfaces are mandatory. Any associated additional weight or cost must not
dissipate the advantages of LFC to a degree that the manufacturer or user would judge the remaining advantages insuffi-
cient to warrant the increased complexities or risk.

xiii
8
 surface at Reynolds numbers over 30 can be maintained through some shock
million, the highest attained on a lifting waves with a properly designed slot
wing. When the F-94 aircraft speed was configuration. Another most important
increased to the point where the local point is that for the F-94 glove tests, the
Mach number24 on the airfoil surface airfoils were exceptionally well made
exceeded about 1.09, a new potential with minimum waves and were main-
problem appeared. Full-chord laminar tained in a very smooth condition; even
flow was lost with the slot configuration so, very small amounts of surface rough-
tested. This was probably due to the steep ness, for example from local manufactur-
pressure rise through the shock waves that ing irregularities or from bug impacts,
formed. Other data since that time, caused wedges of turbulent flow behind
however, have shown that laminar flow each individual source of turbulence.25

Figure 3. F-94
active laminar-flow-
control flight
experiments.

24 Mach number is a measure of airplane speed in terms of the ratio of the airplane speed to the speed of sound at the
flight altitude. Airplane speeds up to the speed of sound are termed subsonic, above the speed of sound, supersonic, with
the supersonic speeds greater than approximately Mach 5 (or 5 times the speed of sound) referred to as hypersonic. The
region between about Mach 0.85 and 1.15 is termed transonic. Because of the cross-sectional curvature of lifting surfaces
like wings, local Mach numbers of the air above the wing exceed the airplane Mach number.

25 W. Pfenninger, E.E. Groth, R.C. Whites, B.H. Carmichael, and J.M. Atkinson, Note About Low Drag Suction Experi-
ments in Flight on a Wing Glove of a F94-A Airplane (Northrop Corp., Norair Division Report NAI-54-849, BLC-69,
December 1954).

xiv
9
 By this time, there was a better developed with which the permissible
understanding that the use of increased air three-dimensional type surface-roughness
density in some wind tunnels, to more height can be estimated within reasonable
closely approximate full-scale flight accuracy.27
values of Reynolds number, aggravated NASA became aware in 1960 of a
the surface roughness problem in the wind renewed U. S. Air Force (USAF) interest
tunnel as compared with flight.26 Never- in active laminar-flow control through a
theless, the vast NACA experience in the visit of Philip P. Antonatos of the USAF
development of laminar-flow airfoils in Wright Air Development Division
the late 1930s and early 1940s, the British (WADD) to the author, who was then
flight tests of natural laminar-flow airfoils head of the General Aerodynamics
on the King Cobra and Hurricane air- Branch of the LaRC Full-Scale Research
planes in the mid-1940s, and the NACA Division.28 Contemplated Air Force
and other previously mentioned tests of missions at that time included a high-
laminar-flow control through porous altitude subsonic aircraft of long range or
surfaces and slots in the late 1940s endurance, an ideal match with laminar-
convinced the NACA that the inability to flow control. Laminar flow was required
manufacture and maintain sufficiently to obtain the long range or endurance and
wave-free and smooth surfaces was the high altitude alleviated the adverse effects
principal impediment to the attainment of of surface protuberances. Any special
extensive regions of laminar flow for operational procedures needed to maintain
most airplane missions then conceived. the required surface smoothness in the
The primary focus of the NACA (at least presence of material erosion and corro-
until its transformation in 1958 into the sion and to cope with weather effects,29
National Aeronautics and Space Adminis- aircraft noise, and accumulation of dirt
tration [NASA]) was on the business of and insects could only be evaluated
advancing the understanding of aeronauti- through actual flight experience. WADD
cal phenomena and not on solving manu- also considered it important to provide an
facturing or operational problems, which impressive flight demonstration of
it considered to be the province of the improved airplane performance to be
manufacturer and user. The NACA, better able to advocate the advantages of
therefore, turned its attention away from the contemplated new aircraft.
LFC per se and concentrated its laminar- WADD proposed use of two WB-66D
flow activities on expanding the under- airplanes based on minimum cost, high
standing of the quantitative effects of degree of safety, and short development
surface roughness on transition, with and time. The Northrop Corporation, under
without suction. Based on these NACA sponsorship of the Air Force (with a
data and pertinent data from numerous monetary contribution from the Federal
other researchers, a correlation was Aviation Administration),30 later modified

26 The method of increasing the Reynolds number on small models in wind tunnels involves increasing the air density
through an increase in air pressure (higher unit Reynolds number, i.e., Reynolds number based on a unit length). The
minimum size of a three-dimensional type disturbance that will cause transition is smaller on a small model in an
airstream of higher density than that required to cause transition on a full-size airplane at altitude (and, therefore, lower
density) at the same relative distance from the leading edge.

27 Albert E. von Doenhoff and Albert L. Braslow, “The Effects of Distributed Surface Roughness on Laminar Flow,” in
Boundary-Layer and Flow Control - Its Principles and Application, Vol. 2, edited by G. V. Lachmann (Oxford, London,
New York, Paris: Pergamon Press, 1961), pp. 657-681.

28 ALB files, LHA, notebook on Norair and LRC Memos re X-21: memo for LaRC Associate Director, 17 June 1960.

29 Weather effects include the effects of icing, precipitation, clouds, and low-frequency atmospheric turbulence.

xv
10
Figure 4. One of
two X-21 active
laminar-flow-control
airplanes.

these airplanes with slotted suction wings discontinuities, chipped during flight with
and designated them as experimental resulting roughness large enough to
aircraft X-21A and X-21B (Figure 4). trigger transition.
Beginning with the first development- The combination of X-21 wing
engineering review of the X-21A in geometry, flight altitudes, and Mach
January 1963, the author acted as a NASA numbers was such that local turbulence at
technical consultant to the Air Force.31 the attachment line, e.g., from the fuse-
Northrop began flight research in lage or induced by insect accumulation,
April of 1963 at Edwards Air Force Base. caused turbulent flow over much of the
Several problems arose early in the wing span (spanwise contamination).33 At
project that consumed significant periods about the same time, British flight tests of
for their solution. Principal among these a swept slotted-suction wing mounted
was the old surface smoothness and vertically on the fuselage of a Lancaster
fairness problem32 and an unexpected bomber indicated similar results (Figure
severity of a spanwise contamination 5).34 Although flight experimentation and
problem. With respect to the smoothness small-scale wind-tunnel tests by the
and fairness problem, in spite of a con- British had previously indicated the
certed effort to design and build the existence of the spanwise-contamination
slotted LFC wings for the two airplanes to problem, its significance had gone
the close tolerances required, the resulting unrecognized. With the large-scale X-21
hardware was not good enough. flight tests and further wind-tunnel tests,
Discontinuities in spanwise wing splices Northrop developed methods for avoid-
were large enough to cause premature ance of spanwise contamination. The
transition. Putty, used to fair out these phenomenon is now understood but

30 ALB files, LHA, notebook on Norair and LRC Memos re X-21: memo for LaRC Associate Director, 10 December
1963.

31 See ALB files, LHA, notebook on Norair and LRC Memos re X-21: memo to Air Force Aeronautical Systems
Division from Charles J. Donlan, Acting LaRC Director, dated 2 January 1963, and for other memos and program
reviews.

32 Surface smoothness is a measure of surface discontinuities like protuberances or steps. Surface fairness is a measure
of the degree of waviness of surface contour (shape).

33 On a sweptback wing, the line at which the airflow divides to the upper and lower surfaces is called the attachment
line. If the boundary layer at the attachment line becomes turbulent for any reason and if certain combinations of wing
sweep, wing leading-edge radius, and flight conditions exist, the turbulence spreads outward along the attachment line
and contaminates (makes turbulent) the boundary layer on both wing surfaces outboard of the initial turbulence.

34 R.R. Landeryou and P.G. Porter, Further Tests of a Laminar Flow Swept Wing with Boundary Layer Control by
Suction (College of Aeronautics, Cranfield, England, Report Aero. No. 192, May 1966).

xvi
11
 Figure 5. Swept,
suction-type
laminar-flow-
control wing
mounted vertically
on Lancaster
bomber.

requires careful attention in the design of principal objectives, had not even been
large LFC aircraft.35 initiated because of the effort absorbed by
Another problem that was uncovered the previous problems. To proceed with
during the X-21 flight tests was associated this initiative, the advisors to the Air
with ice crystals in the atmosphere. Force recommended that a major wing
Researchers noted that when the X-21 modification would be needed before
flew in or near visible cirrus clouds, meaningful data on service maintenance
laminar flow was lost but that upon could be obtained.37 This, unfortunately,
emergence from the ice crystals, laminar was never done because of various
flow was immediately regained. G.R. Hall considerations at high levels of the Air
at Northrop developed a theory to indicate Force, probably predominantly the
when laminar flow would be lost as a resource needs of hostilities in Vietnam.
function of atmospheric particle size and Much extremely valuable information,
concentration.36 Little statistical informa- however, was obtained during the X-21
tion, however, was available on the size flight program, supported by wind-tunnel
and quantity of ice particles present in the and analytical studies. At the end of the
atmosphere as a function of altitude, program,38 flights attained laminar flow
season of the year, and geographic on a fairly large airplane over 95 percent
location. Therefore, the practical signifi- of the area intended for laminarization.
cance of atmospheric ice particles on the Unfortunately, top management in gov-
amount of time laminar flow might be lost ernment and industry remembered the
on operational aircraft was not known. difficulties and time required to reach this
By October of 1965, attainment of point more than they did the accomplish-
“service experience comparable to an ment.
operational aircraft,” one of the program’s

35 W. Pfenninger, Laminar Flow Control-Laminarization (AGARD Special Course on Concepts for Drag Reduction,
AGARD Report No. 654, June 1977).

36 G.R. Hall, “On the Mechanics of Transition Produced by Particles Passing Through an Initially Laminar Boundary
Layer and the Estimated Effect on the LFC Performance of the X-21 Aircraft” (Northrop Corp., October 1964).

37 ALB files, LHA, folder labeled X-21 Tech Reviews: USAF Aeronautical Systems Division X-21 DAG Review
Agenda and Attendees with Report of Review Group on X-21A Laminar Flow Control Program, 8 November 1965.

38 Special Section, “Laminar Flow Control Prospects,” Astronautics and Aeronautics 4, no. 7 (July 1966): 30-62. This
section contains articles by several different authors. On X-21, see also document 2 at the end of this monograph.

xvii
12
 Post X-21 Research on Suction-Type and pollution, to improve economics, and
Laminar-Flow Control to reduce terminal-area delays. The
resultant “white paper,” printed December
Hiatus in Research 20th of 1973,40 recommended that the
With the cessation of military support, technological advances identified for
a general hiatus in the development of these purposes be pursued with an in-
active laminar-flow control technology creased emphasis on their potential for
ensued in the United States from the mid- fuel reduction. It also identified additional
1960s to the mid-1970s. Other interest possibilities in the aeronautical disciplines
was lacking because of two principal for fuel conservation. Principal among
reasons: 1) a lack of a contemplated need these, with by far the largest potential for
for very long-range missions for commer- fuel conservation of any discipline, was
cial aircraft for which the benefits of drag reduction through active laminar-
active laminar-flow control were a flow control. Kayten, in a telephone
necessity and 2) the fact that the price of conversation with the author on 14
jet fuel was then so low that the estimated January 1974,41 called the paper “damn
fuel-cost savings for commercial trans- good,” and he strongly urged that we get
ports with ranges of interest was almost going quickly. He indicated, however, that
offset by estimated increases in manufac- the reception by others at Headquarters
turing and maintenance costs. Researchers was nothing more than lukewarm. The
did perform significant analytical work same was true among LaRC researchers
and conceptual studies during this period, in management positions who believed
however. that the problems previously evident in
the laminar-flow research were so severe
Resumption of Research as to render the technology impractical
In 1973, Gerald Kayten, who was and that any further efforts would only
Director of the Transportation Experiment detract from the resources available for
Program Office in the Office of Aeronau- other research endeavors.
tics and Space Technology at NASA Because of this continued adverse
Headquarters, phoned the author with a reaction from many in positions of
request that he prepare a “white paper” on authority, start of a significant program on
potential technology advances that might active laminar-flow control was continu-
reduce the use of fuel by commercial air ally deferred. Leaders of various groups
transports. The request was in response to during the next couple of years, however,
increased prices and increasingly insecure initiated tasks to identify and recommend
sources of petroleum-based fuel resulting Research and Technology (R&T) activi-
from the oil embargo imposed by the ties that would be required to develop
Organization of Petroleum Exporting potential fuel-conservation technologies.
Countries in 1973. NASA, at that time, The following are examples of the studies
was pursuing technological improvements that resulted. In March of 1974, the
in various aircraft disciplinary areas American Institute of Aeronautics and
(identified and evaluated in the Advanced Astronautics (AIAA) assembled a group
Transport Technology Systems and of 91 of its members in a workshop
Design Studies)39 to reduce aircraft noise conference. The objective was “to review

39 These studies were made under the Advanced Technology Transport (ATT) Program at LaRC under the direction of
Thomas A. Toll.

40 Albert L Braslow and Allen H. Whitehead, Jr., Aeronautical Fuel Conservation Possibilities for Advanced Subsonic
Transports (Washington, DC: NASA TM X-71927, 20 December 1973).

41 ALB files, LHA, chronological notebook on Advanced Technology Transport Office (later called Advanced Transport
Technology Office and later changed in emphasis to Aircraft Energy Efficiency Project Office): note dated 1-14-74.

xviii
13
and discuss the technological aspects of Aviation Administration (FAA), and
aircraft fuel conservation methods and to Department of Defense (DOD) to exam-
recommend the initiation of those mea- ine the technological needs and opportu-
sures having the best prospects for short- nities for achievement of more fuel-
term and long-term impact.” One of the efficient transport aircraft and recommend
resultant conclusions was that advances in to NASA an extensive technological
associated technologies since the 1960s development program. The Task Force
warranted a reevaluation of the applica- published its recommendations on 9
tion of laminar-flow control in the design September 197546 and the Langley
of future long-range transport aircraft.42 In Director, Edgar M. Cortright, immediately
November of 1974, the Aeronautics Panel established a Laminar-Flow-Control
of the DOD/NASA Aeronautics and Working Group, chaired by the author, “to
Astronautics Coordinating Board estab- define a program of required R&T
lished a new subpanel on Aeronautical activities.”47 After definition of detailed
Energy Conservation/Fuels, cochaired by plans and a process of evaluation, advo-
A. Braslow, NASA/LaRC and A. Eaffy, cacy, and approval by NASA manage-
USAF/Pentagon.43 The task was to ment, the U.S. Office of Management and
“review the on-going NASA and DOD Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Congress, the
programs and recommend increased Task Force’s recommendations evolved
activities in fuel-conservation technolo- into the NASA Aircraft Energy Efficiency
gies where deficiencies were noted.” The (ACEE) Program. The Office of Aeronau-
subpanel supported further research on tics and Space Technology (OAST) at
LFC, including flight-testing.44 Also NASA Headquarters managed the pro-
recommended was the need for system- gram.
technology studies with fuel conservation The ACEE Project Office was estab-
as a primary criterion so that the applica- lished at the LaRC48 to define, implement
tion of the various technological advances and manage three of six Program ele-
could both separately and by interaction ments. The three elements were Compos-
produce further significant fuel savings.45 ite Structures, Energy Efficient Transport
In 1975, NASA sponsored a Task Force of (subdivided into Advanced Aerodynamics
engineers from within NASA, the Depart- and Active Controls), and Laminar-Flow
ment of Transportation (DOT), Federal Control.49 The acceptance of active
42 “Aircraft Fuel Conservation: An AIAA View” (Proceedings of a Workshop Conference, Reston, VA, 13-15 March,
edited by Jerry Grey, 30 June 1974).

43 ALB files, LHA, folder labeled Aeronautics Panel, AACB, Energy Conservation/Fuels: Minutes of Special Meeting,
NASA/DOD Aeronautics Panel, AACB, 11 November 1974, and Memorandum to Members of the Aeronautics Panel,
AACB, 25 November 1974.

44 ALB files, LHA, folder labeled Aeronautics Panel, AACB, Energy Conservation/Fuels: Report of the Subpanel on
Aeronautical Energy Conservation/Fuels, Aeronautics Panel, AACB, R&D Review, 5 December 1974, sect. 4.1.2. See
document 1 at the end of this monograph.

45 Ibid., sect. 3.8.

46 NASA Task Force for Aircraft Fuel Conservation Technology (Washington, D.C.: NASA TM X-74295, 9 September
1975).

47 See document number 3 at the end of this monograph.

48 ALB files, LHA, Project Plan, Aircraft Energy Efficiency Program, Langley Research Center, L860-001-0, May
1976. Inserted is a page summarizing some key events.

49 Ralph J. Muraca was Deputy Manager for LFC to Robert W. Leonard, ACEE Project Manager in the LaRC Projects
Group headed by Howard T. Wright. The author acted as Muraca’s assistant.

xix
14
 laminar-flow control with suction (LFC) technology developed would be appli-
as part of the NASA ACEE program was cable to but not sufficient for very long-
based on the success of the previous range or high-endurance military trans-
experimental programs in attaining ports. The focus was on obtaining reliable
extensive regions of laminar flow on an information regarding the ability to
operational airplane and more recent provide and the cost of providing required
advances in materials and manufacturing surface tolerances as well as on the ability
technology that might make LFC more to maintain laminar flow in an airline
economically attractive. The principal operational environment. Improvements
motivation was the potentially larger gain in computational ability for providing a
in transport-aircraft performance resulting reliable design capability were also of
from laminarization of the boundary layer importance in the event practicality could
over wing and tail surfaces as compared be established. Implementation of the
with all other technological disciplines. three project elements involved a major
Formulation of the approved program change in Agency philosophy regarding
received very extensive input and support aeronautical research—a judicious
from the air-transport industry.50 An extension of the traditional NACA
important example was the active partici- research role to include demonstration of
pation of people from the industry in an technological maturity in order to stimu-
LFC technology workshop held at the late the application of technology by
Langley Research Center on 6 and 7 industry.
April 1976.51 Representatives of the The ACEE/LFC project to bring
airlines, manufacturers of large aircraft active LFC from an experimental status to
and aircraft engines, and individuals with “technology readiness” for actual applica-
expertise in LFC from the industry and tion required solutions to many difficult
government attended.52 Objectives were to technical problems and entailed a high
review the state of the art, identify and degree of risk—characteristics that
discuss problems and concerns, and dictated reliance on government support.
determine what was necessary to bring A phased approach to require that
LFC to a state of readiness for application progress in each area be evaluated prior to
to transport aircraft. The ACEE Project funding the next phase was accepted as a
Office relied heavily on the discussions. means of controlling the large resource
A change in LFC emphasis from the commitments required and of alleviating
previous military application to the more the concern about the risk factor. This
difficult one of commercial transports, approach led to considerable heartburn in
where manufacturing and operational the project office in its attempt to com-
costs are more important, made the LFC plete a successful overall development in
task even more challenging. The objective a timely fashion; a need to wait for
of the LFC element was to provide successful results on intermediate steps
industry with sufficient information to was required before there could be
permit objective decisions on the feasibil- adequate advocacy for the inclusion of
ity of LFC for application to commercial subsequent phases in an annual govern-
transports. It was expected that the ment budget cycle. The project office

50 ALB files, LHA, notebook labeled Industry Comments: responses from industry top management to letter from
Robert E. Bower, LaRC Director for Aeronautics, requesting response to five specific questions regarding LFC; internal
ACEE Project Office memos on visits to industry to review detailed program proposals; and personal notes on trips to
industry.

51 ALB files, LHA, Workshop on Laminar Flow Control held at LaRC, compiled by Charles T. DiAiutolo, 6-7 April
1976.

52 General chairmen were Adelbert L. Nagel and Albert L. Braslow of LaRC.

xx
15
adopted the following guidelines for the tion of an acceptable solution
LFC part of the program: “technology • Evaluation of LFC surface and wing
readiness” should be validated by the structural concepts employing ad-
aircraft industry, and in particular, by vanced materials and fabrication
those companies involved in production techniques
of long-range aircraft; the program should • Development of improved aerodynamic
be cognizant of technological advances in and acoustic design tools and establish-
other disciplines where those advances ment of optimized suction criteria
would be of particular benefit to LFC or • Validation of airfoil and wing geom-
where their application to future turbulent etries optimized for LFC
jet transports appeared likely; and the • Validation of high-lift devices and
program should build on the existing data control surfaces compatible with LFC
base, in particular, the USAF X-21 flights • Demonstration of predicted achieve-
and associated programs previously ment of laminar flow and validation of
discussed. acceptable economics in the manufac-
ture and safe commercial operation of
Research from the Mid-1970s to the LFC airplanes.
Mid-1990s A few flight programs that investi-
For various reasons, the ACEE/LFC gated aerodynamic phenomena associated
project required flight research in the with attainment of natural laminar flow
following activities: (NLF) provided information that was also
• Determination of the severity of the of importance to active laminar-flow
adverse effects of surface contamina- control at high subsonic speeds. These are
tion by insects on the extent of laminar discussed in the following subsections
flow and the development and valida- along with those that used LFC.

Figure 6. F-111/
TACT variable-
sweep transition
flight experiment.
(NASA photo ECN
3952)

xxi
16
 Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) on Swept results were limited by a restricted
Wings: F-111/TACT and F-14 spanwise extent of the gloves, an abbrevi-
Of principal significance in NLF ated test schedule (caused by the required
flight research done with an F-111 air- return to the Air Force of the borrowed
plane and an F-14 airplane was quantifi- aircraft), and limited instrumentation.55
cation of the adverse effect of crossflow The results,56 however, provided the basis
instability due to wing sweep. Research- for a follow-on program with another
ers installed supercritical, natural laminar- variable-sweep aircraft (an F-14 on loan
flow airfoil gloves on an F-111 aircraft to NASA from the Navy, Figure 7) that
(Figure 6), re-designated as the F-111/ enabled attainment of a much broader and
TACT (Transonic Aircraft Technology) more accurate transition database. The F-
airplane, and tested it in early 1980 at the 14 research began in 1984 at the DFRC
Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC)53 and was completed in 1987.57
through a range of sweep angles.54 These Flush static-pressure orifices and

Figure 7. F-14
variable-sweep
transition flight
experiment. (NASA
photo)

53 From 1981 to 1994, Dryden was subordinated to the NASA Ames Research Center as the Ames-Dryden Flight
Research Facility, but to avoid confusion I will refer to it as DFRC throughout the narrative.

54 NASA flight-test participants were: Einar K. Enevoldson and Michael R. Swann, research pilots; Lawrence J. Caw
followed by Louis L. Steers, project managers; Ralph G. (Gene) Blizzard, aircraft crew chief; and Robert R. Meyer, Jr.,
followed by Louis L. Steers, DFRC principal investigators. For an example of a flight report on the F-111 with the NLF
gloves, see document 5 at the end of this monograph.

55 ALB files, LHA, folder labeled SASC 1980-81: memo on Natural Laminar Flow Flight Tests At DFRC On F-111
Aircraft, August 1980.

56 Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, Preliminary Design Department, F-111 Natural Laminar Flow Glove Flight Test
Data Analysis and Boundary Layer Stability Analysis (Washington, DC: NASA Contractor Report 166051, January 1984).

57 NASA flight-test participants were: Edward T. Schneider and C. Gordon Fullerton, research pilots; Jenny Baer-
Riedhart, project manager; Bill McCarty, aircraft crew chief; Harry Chiles, instrumentation engineer; Robert R. Meyer,
Jr., chief engineer; Marta R. Bohn-Meyer, operations engineer; Bianca M. Trujillo, DFRC principal investigator; and
Dennis W. Bartlett, LaRC principal investigator.

xxii
17
 Figure 8. Maximum
transition Reynolds
number as a
function of wing
sweep.

surface arrays of hot films58 were distrib- F-14 transition data also provided suffi-
uted over gloves with a different airfoil cient detailed information to improve the
contour on each wing to determine local understanding of the combined effects of
wing pressures and transition locations. wing cross-sectional shape, wing sweep,
Data from these sources and associated and boundary-layer suction (even though
flight parameters were telemetered to the suction was not used on the F-14) on the
ground and monitored in real time by the growth of two-dimensional and crossflow
flight-research engineer. Figure 8 presents disturbances.59 This improved understand-
results from the F-111 and F-14 swept- ing permits a significant increase in
wing flight research along with results maximum transition Reynolds number
from low-speed wind-tunnel research in through the use of suction in only the
the LaRC Low-Turbulence Pressure leading-edge region of swept wings in
Tunnel (previously mentioned in the Early combination with an extent of favorable
Research section) and the Ames Research pressure gradient aft of the suction, a
Center 12-Foot Tunnel. The results are concept called hybrid laminar-flow
presented as the variation of the maxi- control (HLFC), to be discussed later.
mum transition Reynolds number with
wing leading-edge sweep. The research Noise: Boeing 757
engineers, after careful consideration of Under a NASA contract, the Boeing
the differences in accuracy of the various Company performed flight research in
data, have judged that the extent of 1985 on the wing of a 757 aircraft (Figure
laminar flow (a direct function of the 9) to determine the possible effects of the
transition Reynolds number) is unaffected acoustic environment on boundary-layer
by wing sweep up to a value of about 18 transition. Because of a lack of sufficient
degrees. At higher sweep angles, the data on the acoustic environment associ-
extent of laminar flow is appreciably ated with wing-mounted high-bypass-
reduced by crossflow disturbances. The ratio turbofan engines, a concern about
58 The hot-film sensors consisted of nickel-film elements deposited on a substrate of polyimide film with an installed
thickness of less than 0.007 inch. Electric current is passed through the nickel elements and circuitry maintains a constant
element temperature. The changes in current required to maintain the temperature constant are measured when changes
in boundary-layer condition cause changes in cooling of the elements. The difference in cooling between a laminar and
turbulent boundary layer and the fluctuating variations during the transition process from laminar to turbulent can then
be measured and the transition location determined.

59 R.D. Wagner, D.V. Maddalon, D.W. Bartlett, F.S. Collier, Jr., and A.L. Braslow, “Laminar Flow Flight Experiments,”
from Transonic Symposium: Theory, Application, and Experiment held at Langley Research Center (Washington, DC:
NASA CP 3020, 1988).

xxiii
18
Figure 9. 757
transport noise
experiments.

potential adverse effects of engine noise to 45 thousand feet and cruise speeds of
led to a belief that the engines needed to Mach 0.63 to 0.83.
be located in an aft position on the Although this flight research was not
fuselage. This location has a potentially expected to provide answers on noise
severe adverse impact on performance effects for all combinations of pertinent
and LFC fuel savings. Boeing replaced a parameters, it did provide important
leading-edge slat just outboard of the indications. The most important was that
wing-mounted starboard engine with a engine noise does not appear to have a
10-foot span smooth NLF glove swept significant effect on crossflow distur-
back 21 degrees. Seventeen microphones bances so that if the growth of crossflow
were distributed over the upper and lower disturbances in the leading edge is
surfaces to measure the overall sound controlled by suction, large extents of
pressure levels, and hot films were used to laminar flow should be possible even in
measure the position of transition from the presence of engine noise. If, however,
laminar to turbulent flow. The starboard in an HLFC application, the growth of
engine was throttled from maximum two-dimensional type disturbances is
continuous thrust to idle at altitudes of 25 comparable to or greater than the growth

xxiv
19
of crossflow disturbances, engine noise transition, even at altitudes as high as
might be a more significant factor. The 40,000 feet.61 (Remember that an increase
results were unable to validate theoretical in altitude alleviates the adverse effect of
predictions of the magnitude of noise surface roughness in that the minimum
levels at high altitudes and subsonic height of roughness that will induce
cruise speeds.60 transition increases as altitude increases.)
An observation, however, had been made
Insect Contamination: JetStar previously by Handley Page in England
A major concern regarding the where flight tests of a Victor jet indicated
dependability of laminar flow in flight that insect remains eroded to one-half
involved the possibility (most thought, their height after a high-altitude cruise
probability) that the remains of insect flight. The Langley researchers, therefore,
impacts on component leading edges deemed it necessary to investigate further
during flight at low altitudes during the possible favorable erosion but, if
takeoff or landing would be large enough erosion was determined to be insufficient
to cause transition of the boundary layer to alleviate premature transition at cruise
from laminar to turbulent during cruise altitudes, to develop and validate an Figure 10. JetStar
aircraft and re-
flight. As a first step, the LaRC measured acceptable solution to the insect contami-
search team for
the insect remains that had accumulated nation problem.
investigation of
on the leading edges of several jet air- Researchers at the DFRC and the insect contamina-
planes based at the Center. The Langley LaRC used a JetStar airplane at Dryden tion . Left to right:
researchers calculated that the insect (Figure 10) in 1977 to investigate the back row —
remains were high enough to cause insect-contamination problem.62 With Thomas C.
McMurtry, test pilot;
Kenneth Linn,
instrumentation
technician; Rob-
ert S. Baron,
project manager;
Donald L. Mallick,
test pilot; Walter
Vendolski, aircraft
mechanic; John B.
Peterson, Jr., LaRC
principal investiga-
tor; front row —
Albert L. Braslow,
LaRC; James A.
Wilson, aircraft
crew chief; William
D. Mersereau, flight
operations; David
F. Fisher, DFRC
principal investiga-
tor. (Private photo
provided by author)

60 Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, Flight Survey of the 757 Flight Noise Field and Its Effect on Laminar
Boundary Layer Transition, Vol. 3: Extended Data Analysis (Washington, DC: NASA CR178419, May, 1988).

61 The calculations were based on von Doenhoff and Braslow, “The Effects of Distributed Surface Roughness on
Laminar Flow,” pp. 657-681, cited in footnote 27.

62 Dave Fisher was principal investigator at DFRC, and Jack Peterson formulated the program under the direction of the
author at the LaRC.

xxv
20
 contract support of the aircraft manufac- was permitted to occur on a dry surface
turer, the Lockheed-Georgia Aircraft spray could not wash the insect remains
Company, they modified the left outboard off the leading edge (somewhat akin to
leading-edge flap. Five different types of the inability of an automobile windshield
superslick and hydrophobic surfaces were washer alone to remove bug accumulation
installed in the hope that impacted insects from the windshield). The pilots, named
would not adhere to them. In addition, in Figure 10, had flown the airplane with
researchers installed a leading-edge the spray on at low altitudes over agricul-
washing system and instrumentation to ture fields in an area with a high density
determine the position of boundary-layer of flying insects in order to give the wet-
transition. Dryden research pilots first surface concept a severe test.64 Supporting
flew the airplane with an inactive washer analyses at LaRC also indicated an
system on numerous airline-type takeoffs acceptable weight penalty of a washer
from large commercial airports. They flew system equal to less than one percent of
at transport cruise altitudes and then the gross weight of an LFC transport
landed at DFRC for post-flight inspection. airplane.
These early tests indicated that insects
were able to live in an airport noise and Leading-Edge Flight Test (LEFT)
pollution environment and accumulated Program: JetStar
on the leading edge. The insects thus Planning for a flight test program to
collected did not erode enough to avoid provide definitive information on the
premature transition at cruise altitudes. It effectiveness and reliability of LFC began
is probable that insect impacts at the at LaRC soon after approval of the ACEE
much higher transport takeoff speed, as Program. The Langley ACEE Project
compared with the slow takeoff speed of Office expended considerable effort in
the previously mentioned Victor airplane, consideration of candidate flight vehicles.
initially compresses the insects to a Representatives of the airlines and
greater degree where further erosion does transport manufacturers strongly advo-
not take place. None of the superslick and cated the need for a test aircraft equal to
hydrophobic surfaces tested showed any the size of a long-range transport (as
significant advantages in alleviating indicated in the question and answer
adherence of insects. The need for an session of the 1976 LFC Workshop, cited
active system to avoid insect accumula- in footnote 51) to provide meaningful
tion, then, was apparent.63 results with respect to aerodynamic,
Although researchers had considered manufacturing, and operational consider-
many concepts for such a system over the ations. Government managers applied
years and had tested some, none had been equally strong pressure towards the
entirely satisfactory. The results of the selection of a smaller size for cost rea-
flight research using the leading-edge sons. The Project Office eventually
washer system that had been installed on formulated a satisfactory solution that
the JetStar leading-edge flap showed that fulfilled both requirements. It decided to
a practical system was at hand. The tests restrict the tests to the leading-edge region
showed that keeping the surface wet while of a laminar-flow wing suitable for a
encountering insects was effective in high-subsonic-speed transport airplane
preventing insect adherence to the wing because the most difficult technical and
leading edge. After insect accumulation design challenges that had to be overcome

63 David F. Fisher and John B. Peterson, Jr., “Flight Experience on the Need and Use of Inflight Leading Edge Washing
for a Laminar Flow Airfoil,” AIAA Aircraft Systems and Technology Conference, Los Angeles, CA (AIAA paper 78-
1512, 21-23 August 1978).

64 Details of these flight tests are included in ibid.

xxvi
21
before active laminar-flow control with ity studies and technical evaluations of
suction could be considered a viable several candidate aircraft.66
transport design option were (and still are) Selection of the most promising
embodied in this region. The external approaches to satisfaction of LFC systems
surfaces at the leading edge must be requirements for both slotted-surface and
manufactured in an exceptionally smooth perforated-surface configurations was
condition (smoother than necessary at based on several years of design, fabrica-
more rearward locations) and must be tion and ground testing activities.67 The
maintained in that condition while subject Douglas Aircraft Co. and the Lockheed-
to foreign-object damage, insect impinge- Georgia Aircraft Co. were the major
ment, rain erosion, material corrosion, contributors to this activity. Unfortu-
icing, and other contaminants. In addition, nately, the Boeing Co. did not participate
an insect-protection system, an anti-icing initially because of a corporate decision to
system, a suction system, and perhaps a concentrate its activities on the develop-
purge system and/or a high-lift leading- ment of near-term transport aircraft.
edge flap must all be packaged into a Boeing became active in the laminar-flow
relatively small leading-edge box volume. developments later. Inasmuch as no clear-
Most of these problems equally affect the cut distinction existed at that time be-
concept of hybrid LFC and the concept of tween multiple slots and continuous
active laminar-flow control with suction suction through surface perforations made
to more rearward positions. with new manufacturing techniques
The Project Office then selected the (although continuous suction had aerody-
same JetStar airplane that was previously namic advantages), the Project Office
used for the initial insect-contamination prudently decided to continue investiga-
flight research. The test article would be tion of both methods for boundary-layer
dimensionally about equivalent to the suction. The Lockheed-Georgia Aircraft
leading-edge box of a DC-9-30 airplane, a Company installed a slotted configuration
small commercial transport, where on the left wing, and the Douglas Aircraft
solution of the packaging problems would Company installed a perforated configura-
provide confidence for all larger HLFC tion on the right wing. The leading-edge
and LFC airplanes with suction to more sweep of both wing gloves was reduced
rearward positions. Its choice, however, from the wing sweep of 33 degrees to 30
did not receive unanimous concurrence. degrees to alleviate the crossflow instabil-
Dr. Pfenninger, who was then employed ity problem somewhat. Figures 11-13
by the LaRC, strongly objected to selec- present illustrations of the airplane and
tion of an airplane with a leading-edge the leading-edge configurations.
sweep as high as the JetStar’s (33 de- The design of the slotted arrangement
grees) because he expected greatly represented a leading-edge region for a
increased difficulty in handling the large future transport with laminar flow on both
crossflow disturbances that would be surfaces in cruise flight and included
introduced.65 The Project Office accepted 0.004-inch-wide suction slots (smaller
the risk, however, after extensive feasibil- than the thickness of a sheet of tablet

65 ALB files, LHA, pocket-size “Memoranda” notebook: entry dated 2 September 1976.

66 ALB files, LHA, folder labeled LaRC Internal Memos on LFC dated 12/3/75 to 11/16/78: Memo to Distribution from
Ralph J. Muraca, Deputy Manager, LFC Element of ACEEPO on Feasibility Studies of Candidate Aircraft for LFC
Leading Edge Glove Flight — Request for Line Division Support, 16 November 1978.

67 Albert L. Braslow and Michael C. Fischer, “Design Considerations for Application of Laminar-Flow Control Systems
to Transport Aircraft,” presented at AGARD/FDP VKI Special Course on Aircraft Drag Prediction and Reduction at the
von Kármán Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Rhode St. Genese, Belgium on 20-23 May 1985, and at NASA Langley on 5-
8 August 1985, in AGARD Rept. 723, Aircraft Drag Prediction and Reduction (July 1985): 4-1 through 4-27.

xxvii
22
 paper) cut in a titanium surface.68 The for a future transport with laminar flow on
slots that encompassed the wing stagna- the upper surface only—an approach that
tion line also served the dual purpose of can provide future transports with signifi-
ejecting a freezing-point depressant fluid cant simplifying advantages at the ex-
film for anti-icing and for insect protec- pense of a somewhat higher drag. In the
Figure 11a. JetStar tion. During climb-out, these slots were design of future transports with upper-
Test-bed aircraft for purged of fluid and they joined the other surface suction only, the adverse effect of
the NASA Leading-
Edge Flight Test
program.

Figure 11b. JetStar

aircraft and team
for Leading-Edge
Flight-Test Pro-
gram. Left to right:
J. Blair Johnson,
aerodynamics
engineer; Gary
Carlson, aircraft
mechanic; Michael
C. Fischer, LaRC
principal investiga-
tor; James Wilson,
aircraft crew chief;
Donald L. Mallick,
test pilot; David F.
Fisher, DFRC
principal investiga-
tor; John P. Stack,
LaRC instrumenta-
tion technician;
Edward Nice,
aircraft mechanic;
Ron Young,
instrumentation
engineer; Earl
Adams, DFRC
instrumentation
technician; Robert
S. Baron, DFRC
project manager;
Russell Wilson,
aircraft inspector;
Richard D. Wagner,
LaRC project
manager; unidenti-
fied; Fitzhugh L.
Fulton, test pilot.
(NASA photo ECN suction slots for laminarization of the a loss in lower-surface laminarization will
30203)
boundary layer under cruise conditions. not be as great as one might expect
The design of the perforated arrange- because the skin friction is higher on the
ment represented a leading-edge region upper surface due to higher local veloci-

68 No leading-edge high-lift device was required for the transport aircraft conceptualized by Lockheed for this applica-
tion of LFC.

xxviii
23
 Figure 12. Leading-
Edge Flight-Test
program perforated
test article.

ties. A relatively small extension in upper- much preferable to concepts that use
surface laminarization, therefore, can be external fasteners, where the fasteners
used to significantly attenuate the in- could induce external disturbances. The
creased drag of the lower surface. initial manufacturing costs and the
The advantages of laminarization of maintenance costs are reduced. Upper-
only the upper surface include several surface-only laminarization also will
features. Conventional access panels to permit deployment of a leading-edge
wing leading- and trailing-edge systems device for both high lift and shielding
and fuel tanks can be provided on the from direct impacts of insects. Deploy-
wing lower surface for inspection and ment, when needed, and retraction into
maintenance purposes without disturbing the lower surface, when not needed, will
the laminar upper surface. Laminarized be permitted because the need for strin-
surfaces in areas susceptible to foreign- gent surface smoothness on the lower
object damage are eliminated. The wing surface will be eliminated. The test
can be assembled from the lower surface arrangement used such a device with an
with the use of internal fasteners; this is auxiliary nozzle to spray freezing-point

Figure 13. Leading-

Edge Flight-Test
program slotted
test article.

xxix
24
 depressant fluid for anti-icing and to cost application to future laminar-flow
provide conservatism in the elimination of airplanes.
insect adherence.69 Finally, Douglas used The Dryden Flight Research Center
a system for reversing the flow of air again conducted the flight tests.70 After
through the perforations on the test initial tests to check out and adjust all
arrangement to remove possible residual systems and instrumentation, the principal
fluid. effort focused on demonstration of the
Use of electron-beam technology ability to attain the design extent of
made possible, for the first time, manufac- laminar flow under routine operational
ture of holes of a small enough size and conditions representative of LFC subsonic
spacing to avoid introduction of aerody- commercial airplanes and on provision of
namic disturbances as large as those that insight into maintenance requirements.
had previously caused premature transi- Simulated airline flights included ground
tion in wind tunnels. The successful use queuing, taxi, take off, climb to cruise
of laser “drilling” of holes followed later. altitude, cruise for a sufficient time to
The perforations in the test arrangement determine possible atmospheric effects on
on the JetStar were 0.0025 inch in diam- laminar flow, descent, landing, and taxi.
eter (smaller than a human hair) and were Conditions representative of airline
spaced 0.035 inch apart in a titanium skin operations included one to four operations
(over 4,000 holes per square foot of per day and flight in different geographi-
surface area). Only very close inspection cal areas, seasons of the year, and
would reveal a difference between a weather. Also, as in the case of commer-
perforated-wing surface and a solid one. cial airline operations, the airplane
In general, instrumentation was remained outdoors at all times while on
conventional but careful attention was the ground and no protective measures
required to avoid any adverse interference were taken to lessen the impact of adverse
with the external or internal airflows. An weather or contamination on the test
unconventional instrument called a articles. In order not to increase pilot
Knollenberg probe (a laser particle workload in the operation of LFC air-
spectrometer) was mounted atop a ventral planes, the suction system was operated in
pylon on the fuselage upper surface to a hands-off mode (except for on-off
measure the sizes and quantities of inputs).
atmospheric ice and water droplets. A All operational experience with the
charging patch, mounted on the pylon LFC systems performance (for both
leading edge, provided a simple way to perforated and slotted configurations)
detect the presence of atmospheric during the simulated-airline-service
particles and an impending loss of laminar flights was positive.71 Specifically, during
flow by responding to the electrostatic four years of flight testing from Novem-
charge developed when ice or water ber 1983 to October 1987, no dispatch
droplets struck the aircraft surface. The delays were caused by LFC systems.
patch was investigated as a possible low- Laminar flow was obtained over the

69 After the early JetStar flight tests on the effectiveness of wetting the leading-edge surfaces for prevention of insect
adherence, analyses and wind-tunnel tests of live-insect impacts were made by both Lockheed and Douglas to develop
detailed arrangements of leading-edge-protection methods for their selected LFC configurations.

70 NASA Flight-test participants were: Donald L. Mallick and Fitzhugh L. Fulton, research pilots; Robert S. Baron,
project manager; Ronald Young, instrumentation engineer; David F. Fisher followed by M.C. Montoya, DFRC principal
investigators; and Michael C. Fischer, LaRC principal investigator. For background to the flight testing, see document 4
at the end of this monograph.

71 Dal V. Maddalon and Albert L. Braslow, Simulated-Airline-Service Flight Tests of Laminar-Flow Control with
Perforated-Surface Suction System (Washington, DC: NASA Technical Paper 2966, March 1990).

xxx
25
leading-edge test regions as planned after Reynolds number, i.e., to distances greater
exposure to heat, cold, humidity, insects, than the end of the leading-edge test
rain, freezing rain, snow, ice, and moder- article. Nevertheless, the simulated-
ate turbulence. Removal of ground airline-service flights successfully demon-
accumulations of snow and ice was no strated the overall practicality of baseline
more difficult than the then-normal designs for leading-edge LFC systems for
procedures for transport aircraft. No future commercial-transport aircraft, a
measurable degradation of the titanium major step forward.
surfaces occurred. Surface cleaning
between flights was not necessary. Pilot Surface Disturbances: JetStar
adjustment of suction-system operation In 1986 and 1987, the LaRC LFC
was unnecessary. The simple electrostatic Project Office, which had continued
“charging patch” device appeared to offer research on LFC after termination of the
an inexpensive and reliable method of ACEE Project,72 took advantage of the
detecting the presence of ice crystals in continued availability of the JetStar
flight (more about the atmospheric airplane at the DFRC to further the
particle problem later). quantitative database on the effects of
The emergence of electron-beam two- and three-dimensional-type surface
perforated titanium as a wing surface that roughness and on the effects of suction
met the severe aerodynamic, structural, variations.73 The most significant results
fabrication, and operational requirements that were obtained concerned clarification
for practical aircraft applications was of the quantitative effects of crossflow
considered to be a major advance in due to sweep on the roughness sizes that
laminar-flow control technology by the would cause premature transition. As
principal government and industry indicated many times in this monograph,
investigators. Fabrication of the slotted- the adverse effect of surface protuber-
surface test article resulted in a suction ances on the ability to maintain laminar
surface that was only marginally accept- flow was the primary inhibiting factor to
able, resulting in poorer performance. the practicality of LFC. Although an
Some further development of slotted- empirical method of determining the
surface manufacturing techniques, quantitative effects of surface roughness
therefore, was (and is) still required. Also on transition had been developed much
needed is proof of satisfactory aerody- earlier for unswept wings,74 some indica-
namic performance of the perforated tions had later become available75 that
surface at larger values of length wing sweep (crossflow effects) might

72 Richard D. Wagner headed the LaRC LFC Project Office during the 1980s (at first, still under ACEE) and was followed
by F.S. Collier, Jr. The author, after his retirement from NASA in 1980, continued to provide significant input into the
planning, analysis and reporting of much of the experimental research and development activities through local aerospace
contractors. Dal V. Maddalon was technical monitor for these contracts. See ALB files, four folders labeled SASC (Systems
and Applied Sciences Corporation) and one folder labeled Analytical Services and Materials, Inc. (April, 1980 through Sept.,
1993).

73 Dal V. Maddalon, F.S. Collier, Jr., L.C. Montoya, and C.K. Land, “Transition Flight Experiments on a Swept Wing with
Suction” (AIAA paper 89-1893, 1989); Albert L. Braslow and Dal V. Maddalon, Flight Tests of Three-Dimensional Surface
Roughness in the High-Crossflow Region of a Swept Wing with Laminar-Flow Control (Washington, DC: NASA TM
109035, October 1993); Albert L. Braslow and Dal V. Maddalon, Flight Tests of Surface Roughness Representative of
Construction Rivets on a Swept Wing with Laminar-Flow Control (Washington, DC: NASA TM 109103, April 1994).

74 See von Doenhoff and Braslow, “The Effects of Distributed Surface Roughness on Laminar Flow,” pp. 657-681,
cited in footnote 27.

75 Dezso George-Falvy, “In Quest of the Laminar-Flow Airliner—Flight Experiments on a T-33 Jet Trainer,” 9th
Hungarian Aeronautical Science Conference, Budapest, Hungary (10-12 November 1988).

xxxi
26
 exacerbate the roughness effects. Analysis type roughness (ratios of roughness width
of the additional JetStar data76 indicated or diameter to height of approximately 0.5
that the adverse effect of crossflow to 5.0) located in a high crossflow region
occurred for two- rather than three- is the same as that previously established
dimensional type roughness.77 in zero crossflow; 2) only for more two-
Figure 14 plots a roughness Reynolds dimensional type roughness (roughness
number parameter against the ratio of width to height ratios equal to or greater
roughness width to height.78 The symbols than approximately 24) will high
represent data for unswept wings with no crossflow decrease the permissible height

Figure 14. Com-

parison of swept-
wing surface
roughness data
with unswept-wing
von Doenhoff-
Braslow data
correlation.

crossflow except for a group of three of roughness; and 3) for values of rough-
identified for swept wings in high ness width to height ratios equal to or
crossflow.79 The vertical bracket indicates greater than approximately 30, develop-
a range of roughness data obtained on the ment of a different criterion for permis-
sweptback JetStar in a region of high sible roughness height is required. Infor-
crossflow. The horizontal line represents mation of this kind is crucial for the
other roughness data obtained on the establishment of the manufacturing
JetStar in both low and high crossflow. tolerances and maintenance requirements
The important conclusions are: 1) for that must be met for surface smoothness.
practical engineering application, the
permissible height of three-dimensional

76 From the second and third sources cited in footnote 73.

77 For any reader interested in a brief summary of the basic two- and three-dimensional roughness effects on laminar
flow without crossflow, the discussion on pages 2-4 of the second citation in footnote 73 is recommended.

78 From Figure 7 of the third source cited in footnote 73.

79 See von Doenhoff and Braslow, “The Effects of Distributed Surface Roughness on Laminar Flow,” pp. 657-681,
cited in footnote 27.

xxxii
27
 Figure 15. Potential
laminar-flow loss
on some major
airline routes.

Atmospheric Ice Particles: Boeing 747s distance airline routes. He then made
and JetStar conservative estimates of the probable
As indicated in the section on the loss of laminar flow on these major airline
post-World War II to mid-1960s period, routes by assuming that all cloud encoun-
the practical significance of atmospheric ters cause total loss of laminar flow, i.e.,
ice particles on the amount of time that the percentage loss of laminar flow
laminar flow might be lost on operational on a given flight is equal to the percentage
aircraft was not known because of a lack of time spent within clouds on that flight.
of information on particle concentrations. For further conservatism, he assumed that
Unanalyzed cloud-encounter and particle- pilots would make no attempt to avoid
concentration data became available from flight through clouds. Figure 15 is an
the NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) example of the potential laminar-flow loss
Global Atmospheric Sampling Program on some of the major airline routes—Los
(GASP) in the late 1970s. From March Angeles-Tokyo, New York-London, and
1975 to June 1979, NASA obtained data New York-Los Angeles. The figure also
with instruments placed aboard four 747 includes a world average. These results
airliners on more than 3,000 routine now make it apparent that cloud encoun-
commercial flights that involved about ters during cruise of long-range commer-
88,000 cloud-encounters.80 cial air transports are not frequent enough
With the GASP data, Richard E. to invalidate the large performance
Davis of the LaRC estimated average improvements attainable through applica-
cloud-cover statistics for several long- tion of LFC.

80 William H. Jasperson, Gregory D. Nastrom, Richard E. Davis, and James D. Holdeman, GASP Cloud- and Particle-
Encounter Statistics, and Their Application to LFC Aircraft Studies, Vol. I: Analysis and Conclusions, and Vol. II:
Appendixes (Washington, DC: NASA Technical Memorandum 85835, October 1984).

xxxiii
28
Figure 16. Possi-
bilities of laminar
flow on swept
wings.

In addition, during the JetStar LEFT laminar flow (NLF) and avoids the
program, the Dryden flight-test team objectionable characteristics of each. The
measured the size and concentration of leading-edge sweep limitation of NLF is
atmospheric particles encountered at the overcome through application of suction
same time they measured the degree of in the leading-edge box to control
laminar-flow degradation. With these crossflow and attachment-line instabilities
LEFT measurements, Davis at LaRC characteristic of swept wings. Wing
provided some validation of the Hall shaping for favorable pressure gradients
theory of laminar-flow loss as a function to suppress Tollmien-Schlichting instabili-
of atmospheric particle size and concen- ties and thus allow NLF over the wing
tration.81 box region (the region between the two
wing structural spars) removes the need
Hybrid Laminar-Flow Control for inspar LFC suction and greatly
(HLFC): Boeing 757 reduces the system complexity and cost.82
The hybrid laminar-flow control HLFC offers the possibility of achieving
concept integrates active laminar-flow extensive laminar flow on commercial or
control with suction (LFC) and natural military transport aircraft with a system

81 See Hall, “On the Mechanics of Transition,” cited in footnote 36.

82 Examples of additional complexities associated with suction over the wing box include: manufacture of a structural
box of sufficient strength and light weight with slots or perforations over a much more extensive area of the wing skin;
extensive internal suction ducting that decreases the internal wing volume available for storage of airplane fuel; larger
suction pump(s) than otherwise needed; an increased difficulty in providing the required surface smoothness and fairness
for maintenance of laminar flow over inspection panels in slotted or perforated surfaces when laminarization of both
upper and lower surfaces is desired; and a need to avoid hazards due to possible leakage of fuel into the suction ducting.
These complexities, along with other special features, increase airplane weight and manufacturing costs as well as
maintenance costs.

xxxiv
29
 Figure 17. Improve-
ment in lift-to-drag
ratio due to laminar
concepts.

no more complex than that already proven regions of the wings near the wing tips.
in the LEFT program on the NASA As the wing-section chord increases
JetStar. (increased Rc) due to either a location
The relative place of HLFC, LFC and nearer the wing root or an increase in
NLF in the wing-sweep-to-aircraft-size airplane size, the chordwise extent of
spectrum is indicated in Figure 16. On a laminar flow decreases (due to increased
grid of chord Reynolds number vs. Tollmien-Schlichting instabilities). Also,
quarter-chord sweep are plotted various less laminar flow is attainable as the wing
items. The shaded area indicates the sweep increases (due to increased
approximate chordwise extent of natural crossflow instabilities). The use of wall
laminar flow attainable on a wing with suction, however, permits the mainte-
initially decreasing surface pressures in nance of laminar flow to large chordwise
the direction towards the trailing edge extents at both high sweep and large size
(upper left plot). Ranges of wing chord (high Reynolds number), as indicated by
Reynolds number in cruise for four the X-21 data point, but at the expense of
commercial transport airplanes are complexities due to the extensive suction
superimposed—for the Douglas DC-10, system. A combination of principles for
Lockheed L-1011, Boeing-757 and active laminar-flow control and natural
Douglas DC-9-80 airplanes. For each laminar flow—hybrid laminar-flow
airplane, the wing chord Reynolds control (HLFC)—greatly increases the
number decreases along the span from size of high subsonic-speed airplanes for
root to tip because of a taper in the wing which large extents of laminar flow can
planform. be obtained as compared with natural
The figure indicates that natural laminar-flow airplanes. For example,
laminar flow can be attained only on compare the chord Reynolds number for

xxxv
30
Figure 18. 757
subsonic hybrid
laminar flow control
flight experiment.
(NASA photo L-90-
9549)

60-percent chord laminar flow with Under a participatory arrangement

HLFC on the upper surface with the chord between the LaRC, the USAF, and the
Reynolds number for natural laminar flow Boeing Commercial Airplane Company,
(of a smaller relative extent) on Citation Boeing flight tested the effectiveness of
III and Learjet airplanes, also plotted in hybrid laminar-flow control on a com-
Figure 16. pany-owned 757 airplane in 1990. Figure
Figure 17 plots the percentage 18 shows an HLFC glove installed on a
improvement of lift-to-drag ratio (L/D)83 large section of the left wing. The systems
for each of the three laminar-flow con- in the leading-edge wing box are very
cepts as compared with a turbulent similar to those flight tested on the JetStar
airplane, plotted as a function of airplane airplane—a Krueger flap84 for insect
wing area. The figure shows a large protection and high lift; a perforated
improvement in L/D for HLFC as com- titanium suction surface; and suction to
pared with NLF. For the larger airplanes, the front spar with an ability to reverse
of course, appreciably larger benefits are flow for purging. Rather than use ejection
obtained with active laminar-flow control of a freezing-point depressant, the design
with suction to positions farther aft. As in encompassed thermal anti-icing, i.e.,
the case of LFC farther aft, the concept of reversal of the airflow and expulsion of
hybrid laminar-flow control requires heated air through the perforations in the
smoothness of surface finish and contour leading-edge region. Boeing pilots flew
as well as protection from insect residue the airplane at transport cruise Mach
and ice accumulation in the leading-edge numbers and altitudes.
region. The systems developed in the The primary goal was to establish the
LEFT program for the leading-edge aerodynamics of HLFC at Reynolds
region are equally applicable for the numbers associated with medium-size
hybrid laminar-flow control application. transport airplanes to reduce industry

83 L/D is a significant measure of aerodynamic performance.

84 “Krueger” designates a specific type of leading-edge high-lift device (flap) that retracts into the wing lower surface.
When used for an active laminar-flow control application, the flap also shields the wing from insect impacts during
takeoff and landing and when retracted under the leading edge for cruise, does not interfere with the upper-surface
laminar flow.

xxxvi
31
risks to acceptable levels. Results were dormant consideration of LFC for com-
very encouraging. Transition location was mercial supersonic transports as part of a
measured several feet past the end of NASA technology-development program
suction and with less suction than esti- for high-speed civil transports. As is the
mated. The Krueger leading-edge flap case for subsonic flight, potential benefits
proved effective as the insect shield. of the application of LFC to supersonic
Existing manufacturing technology transports include increased range,
permitted construction of the leading-edge improved fuel economy, and reduced
box to laminar-flow surface-quality airplane weight. Reduced fuel consump-
requirements. All necessary systems tion will not only improve economics but
required for practical HLFC were suc- will also reduce a potential adverse
cessfully installed into a commercial impact of engine emissions on the earth’s
transport wing.85 ozone layer from flight of supersonic
Research engineers at the LaRC airplanes at higher altitudes than those for
calculated the benefits of the application subsonic flight. Additional benefits of
of hybrid laminar-flow control to a 300- reduced airplane weight at supersonic
passenger long-range twin-engine sub- speeds are a decrease in the magnitude of
sonic transport.86 With what appear to be sonic booms89 and a reduction in commu-
reasonable assumptions of 50-percent nity noise during takeoff.90 Also, the lower
chord laminar flow on the wing upper skin friction of laminar boundary layers as
surface and 50-percent chord laminar flow compared with turbulent boundary layers
on both surfaces of the vertical and is of even more importance at supersonic
horizontal tails, HLFC provides a 15- speeds than at subsonic speeds because
percent reduction in block fuel from that the associated aerodynamic heating of the
of a turbulent transport.87 Application of surface by the skin friction is an important
HLFC to the engine nacelles has the design consideration at supersonic
potential of at least an additional 1- speeds.91 The Boeing Commercial Air-
percent block-fuel reduction with laminar plane Company and the Douglas Aircraft
flow to 40 percent of the nacelle length.88 Company of the McDonnell Douglas
Corporation,92 both under contract to the
Supersonic Laminar-Flow Control: F- LaRC LFC Project Office, first studied
16XL needed aerodynamic modifications and
In the late 1980s, the Laminar-Flow associated structural and systems require-
Control Project Office of the Langley ments to arrive at a realistic assessment of
Research Center reactivated a long- the net performance benefits of super-

85 A generally-available technical report on the HLFC flight tests has not been published.

86 Richard H. Petersen and Dal V. Maddalon, NASA Research on Viscous Drag Reduction (Washington, DC: NASA TM
84518, August 1982).

87 Block fuel is the fuel burned from airport gate to airport gate, excluding fuel burned due to any delays.

88 ALB files, LHA, P.K. Bhutiani, Donald F. Keck, Daniel J. Lahti, and Mike J. Stringas, “Investigating the Merits of a
Hybrid Laminar Flow Nacelle, The Leading Edge” (General Electric Company, GE Aircraft Engines, Spring 1993).

89 The magnitude of a sonic boom is proportional to the airplane lift which is proportional to the airplane weight at a
given cruise speed. If sonic-boom overpressures are reduced below a value of one pound per square foot, overland
supersonic cruise may become allowable.

90 Takeoff noise is reduced by a reduction in takeoff thrust requirements resulting from lower weight.

91 Reduced aerodynamic heating increases material options, enhances the potential for unused fuel as a heat sink for
airplane environmental control systems, and decreases the detectability of military aircraft.

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Figure 19. Two-
seat F-16XL
Supersonic Lami-
nar-Flow-Control
flight research
aircraft with a
suction glove
installed on the left
wing. (NASA photo
EC96-43831-5 by
Jim Ross).

sonic-LFC implementation. Although the flight research and analysis. Specific

promising conclusions were reached, the objectives were to determine the capability
studies indicated the need for additional of active LFC to obtain a large chordwise
research and development specific to the extent of laminar flow on a highly-swept
supersonic application. Recommendations wing at supersonic speeds and to provide
were made for supersonic flight research on validated computational codes, design
HLFC.93 methodology, and initial suction-system
After additional analyses, wind-tunnel design criteria for application to supersonic
testing and exploratory flight research at the transport aircraft. To make accurate mea-
DFRC on two prototype F-16XL airplanes surements, the investigators installed an
denoted as ship 1 and ship 2, DFRC also extensive array of hot-film, pressure, and
flight researched a laser-perforated titanium temperature instrumentation and provided
glove installed on the left wing of ship 2 real-time displays of the measurements.
(Figure 19).94 Under LFC Project Office They completed thirty-eight flights with
management, the Rockwell Corporation and active boundary-layer suction and experi-
the Boeing Company manufactured and enced very few problems with the suction
installed the glove and the Boeing and system.95 The laminar-flow data are
Douglas Companies supported DFRC with currently restricted in distribution.

92 Now part of Boeing.

93 A.G. Powell, S. Agrawal, and T.R. Lacey, Feasibility and Benefits of Laminar Flow Control on Supersonic Cruise
Airplanes (Washington, DC: NASA Contractor Report 181817, July 1989); Boeing Commercial Airplane Company,
Application of Laminar Flow Control to Supersonic Transport Configurations (Washington, DC: NASA Contractor
Report 181917, July 1990).

94 NASA flight-test participants were: Dana Purifoy and Mark P. Stucky, research pilots; Marta R. Bohn-Meyer and
Carol A. Reukauf, project managers; Michael P. Harlow, aircraft crew chief; Lisa J. Bjarke, DFRC principal investigator;
and Michael C. Fischer, LaRC principal investigator.

95 See document number 6 at the end of this monograph for the flight log of the F-16XL number 2.

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Status of Laminar-Flow Control
Technology in the Mid-1990s

The status of laminar-flow control tech-

nology in the mid-1990s may be summa-
rized as follows:
• Design methodology and related
enabling technologies are far advanced
beyond the X-21 levels.
• Improved manufacturing capabilities
now permit the general aviation indus-
try to incorporate natural laminar flow
in some of its aircraft designs for chord
length Reynolds numbers less than 20
million, but active laminar-flow
control, required for larger aircraft and/
or aircraft with highly-swept wings, has
not yet been applied to any operational
aircraft.
• Although some additional structural
and aerodynamic developments are
required, the recent programs have
brought the promise of laminar flow for
moderately large and very large sub-
sonic transport aircraft much closer to
fruition than ever before.
• Hybrid laminar-flow control simplifies
structure and systems and offers
potential for 10- to 20-percent improve-
ment in fuel consumption for moderate-
size subsonic aircraft.
• Hybrid LFC may be the first applica-
tion of suction-type laminar-flow
control technology to large high-
subsonic-speed transports because of its
less risky nature.
• Although much of what has been
learned about subsonic laminar-flow
control is applicable to supersonic
speeds, considerable additional work is
required before supersonic laminar-
flow control can be applied to opera-
tional aircraft.

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 Glossary
AACB Aeronautics and Astronautics Coordinating Board

ACEE Aircraft Energy Efficiency Program

AGARD Advisory Group for Aeronautical Research & Development, North

Atlantic Treaty Organization

AIAA American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Attachment line On a sweptback wing, the line at which the airflow divides to the
upper and lower surfaces

Chord The length of the surface from the leading to the trailing edge of an
airfoil

DAG Division Advisory Group

DFRC Dryden Flight Research Center

DOD Department of Defense

DOT Department of Transportation

FAA Federal Aviation Administration

GASP Global Atmospheric Sampling Program

Glove A special section of an airplane’s lifting surface, usually overlaying

the basic wing structure, that is designed specifically for research
purposes

Hall Originator of a theory that indicates when laminar flow would be lost
as a function of atmospheric particle size and concentration

HLFC Hybrid Laminar-Flow Control

Krueger flap A specific type of leading-edge high-lift device (flap) that retracts
into the wing lower surface. When used for an active laminar-flow
control application, the flap also shields the wing from insect impacts
during takeoff and landing and when retracted under the leading edge
for cruise, does not interfere with the upper-surface laminar flow.

LaRC Langley Research Center

LEFT Leading-Edge Flight Test

Length Reynolds number When the representative length in the formulation of the Reynolds
number is chosen as the distance from the body’s leading edge to the
end of laminar flow, the resultant length Reynolds number can be
used as a measure of the length of laminar flow attained.

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35
LeRC Lewis Research Center (now Glenn Research Center)

LFC Laminar-flow control

LTPT [Langley] Low-Turbulence Pressure Tunnel

NACA National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NLF Natural laminar flow

OAST Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology of NASA

RAE Royal Aircraft Establishment

Reynolds Number A non-dimensional value equal to the product of the velocity

of a body passing through a fluid, the density of the fluid, and
a representative length divided by the fluid viscosity.

Three-dimensional type surface Three-dimensional type surface disturbances are those with
disturbances width or diameter to height ratios near a value of one.

Two-dimensional type disturbances Examples of two-dimensional type disturbances are stream

turbulence, noise, and surface irregularities having large ratios
of width (perpendicular to the stream flow direction) to height,
like spanwise surface steps due to mismatches in structural
panels.

TACT Transonic Aircraft Technology

Tollmien-Schlichting instabilities Very small two-dimensional type disturbances that may induce
transition to turbulent flow—named after German aerody-
namicists Walter Tollmien and Hermann Schlichting.

USAF United States Air Force

WADD Wright Air Development Division

xli
36
 Documents

xlii
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Document 1—Aeronautics Panel, AACB, R&D Review, Report of the
Subpanel on Aeronautical Energy Conservation/Fuels.

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 l
45
Document 2—Report of Review Group on X-21A Laminar Flow Control
Program

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47
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liv
49
lv
50
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51
lvii
52
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53
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54
lx
55
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57
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Document 3—Langley Research Center Announcement: Establishment of
Laminar Flow Control Working Group

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Document 4—Intercenter Agreement for Laminar Flow Control Leading
Edge Glove Flights, LaRC and DFRC

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Document 5—Flight Report, NLF-144, of AFTI/F-111 Aircraft with the
TACT Wing Modified by a Natural Laminar Flow Glove

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Document 6—Flight Record, F-16XL Supersonic Laminar Flow Control
Aircraft

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 F-16XL, 32-33, 71-75
Index F-94, 8-9
Hurricane, 4, 10
Abbott, Ira H., 4 JetStar, 20-29
Adams, Earl, 23 King Cobra, 4, 10
Antonatos, Philip P., 10 Lancaster, 11-12
Baer-Riedhart, Jenny, 17 n Learjet, 29, 31
Baron, Robert S., 20, 23, 25 n Vampire, 6-7
Bartlett, Dennis W., 17 n Victor, 20, 21
Bjarke, Lisa J., 33 n WB-66D, 10
Blizzard, Ralph G., 17 n X-21, 11-12, 16, 29, 34, 46-60
Bohn-Meyer, Marta R., 17 n, 33 n Fullerton, C. Gordon, 17 n
Boundary layer Fulton, Fitzhugh L., 23, 25 n
laminar, 1, 2, 3-10, 12, 15, 16, 18, 20, 23, 26, 29- Goldsmith, John, 6
30, 32, 33 Hall, G.R., 12, 29
turbulent, 1, 6-7, 9-12, 20, 25, 31-32 Harlow, Michael P., 33 n
Bower, Robert E., 15 n Industry
Braslow, Albert L., 5, 10-11, 13-14, 15 n, 20, 26 n Boeing, 18-19
Burrows, Dale L., 5 Douglas, 22, 32-33
Carlson, Gary, 23 Handley Page, 7, 20
Caw, Lawrence J., 17 Lockheed-Georgia, 21-22, 23 n
Chiles, Harry, 21 n Northrop,5-6, 8, 10-12
Collier, F.S., Jr., 26 n Rockwell, 33
Cortright, Edgar M., 14 Instrumentation
Davis, Richard E., 28-29 hot-film, 18-19, 33
DiAiutolo, Charles T., 15 n Knollenberg probe, 25
Disturbance inputs Jacobs, Eastman N., 4, 5 n
insects, 11, 16, 20-21, 25, 26, 31-32 Johnson, J. Blair, 23
noise, 4 n, 8, 10, 13, 18-20, 32 Kayten, Gerald, 13
stream turbulence, 4, 9-12, 26 Klebanoff, P.S., 4
surface irregularities, 6, 7, 9-10, 11, 20, 25, 26-27, Laminar-flow control
31 active (LFC), 1-2, 5-6, 7, 8-9, 10-12, 3, 15-16, 22-
weather, 10, 12, 23-25, 26, 28-29, 31 29, 32-34, 46-60, 61-65, 71-75
Disturbance types combined active & passive, 2, 18, 29-32, 34
attachment line, 11, 29 passive, , 1, 4, 8, 16-17, 19, 29-32, 66-70
crossflow, 2, 8, 11, 17, 18-20, 22, 26,-27, 30 Leonard, Robert W., 14 n
three-dimensional, 6, 10, 26-27 Linn, Kenneth, 20
two-dimensional, 6, 7, 19-20, 26-27 Mach number, 9, 11, 19, 32
Donlan, Charles J., 11 n Maddalon, Dal V. , 26 n
Dryden, Hugh L., 4 Mallick, Donald L., 20, 23, 25 n
Eaffy, A., 14 McCarty, Bill, 17 n
Enevoldson, Einar K., 17 n McMurtry, Thomas C., 20
Fischer, Michael C., 23, 25 n, 33 n Mersereau, William D., 20
Fisher, David F., 20, 23, 25 n Meyer, Robert R., Jr., 17 n
Flight-test and flight-research aircraft Montoya, M.C., 25 n
747, 28-29 Muraca, Ralph J., 14 n, 22 n
757, 18-19, 29-32 Nagel, Adelbert L., 15 n
Anson, 6 Natural Laminar Flow (NLF), 1, 4, 8, 16-17, 19, 29-32,
AW52, 8 66-70
B-18, 3-4 Nice, Edward, 23
Citation III, 29, 31 Organizations
F-111, 16-18, 66-70 Aeronautics and Astronautics Coordinating Board,
F-14, 17-18 14

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 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Tollmien, Walter, 4, 29, 30
13 Trujillo, Bianca M., 17 n
Department of Defense, 14 Vendolski, Walter, 20
Department of Transportation, 14 Visconti, Fioravante, 4, 5
Federal Aviation Administration, 10, 14 von Doenhoff, Albert E., 4
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics,1, 3, Wagner, Richard D., 23, 26 n
10, 15 Wilson, James A., 20, 23
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1, Wind tunnels
10-11, 14, 28 Ames 12-Foot Tunnel, 18
Ames Research Center, 18 Langley Low-Turbulence Pressure Tunnel, 4, 18
Dryden Flight Research Center, 8, 17, 20-29, 33 Wright, Howard T., 14 n
Langley Research Center, 3, 4, 10, 13, 15, 20-21, 31, Young, Ronald, 23, 26 n
32-33
Lewis Research Center, 28
Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology, 14
National Bureau of Standards, 4
Royal Aircraft Establishment (Great Britain), 6, 8
U.S. Air Force, 5-6, 8, 10-12, 31
Wright Air Development Division, 10
Perforation method
electron beam, 24-25
laser, 25
Peterson, John B. Jr., 20
Pfenninger, Werner, 5, 8, 22
Prandtl, Ludwig, 1
Programs
Aircraft Energy Efficiency (ACEE), 14-16, 21-22,
26
Advanced Technology Transport, 13 n
Global Atmospheric Sampling Program, 28
Leading Edge Flight Test, 21-26, 29-31
Simulated airline flights, 21
Supersonic Laminar Flow, 32-33, 71-75
Pumping system, 8
Purifoy, Dana, 33 n
Reukauf, Carol A., 33 n
Reynolds number, 2, 3-4, 5, 6, 7-10, 18, 27, 30-31, 34
Reynolds, Osborne, 2
Schlichting, Hermann, 4, 29, 30
Schneider, Edward T., 17 n
Schubauer, G.B., 4
Skramstad, H.K., 4
Stack, John P., 23
Steers, Louis L., 17 n
Stucky, Mark P., 33 n
Suction type
continuous, 5-6, 8, 10, 24-26, 32-33
slotted, 5-6, 8-9, 22-23, 24-26
strips, 7
Swann, Michael R., 17 n
Tetervin, Neal, 5
Tidstrom, K.P., 4
Toll, Thomas A., 13 n

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 About the Author
Albert L. Braslow graduated from the Guggenheim School of Aeronautics, New York University, in 1942
(with a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering degree) and continued with post-graduate studies at the Univer-
sity of Virginia, UCLA, George Washington University. and Langley Research Center. During over 50 years
of research in fundamental and applied aircraft and space-vehicle aerodynamics at and for the Langley
Research Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (previously the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics), he has published over 60 technical reports, book chapters, and encyclopedia
sections. Included in his research were activities at subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic speeds in
the areas of wing design, boundary layers, stability and control, aircraft performance, propulsion aerodynam-
ics, aerodynamic loads and heating, wind-tunnel techniques, advanced technology evaluation and integration,
and development and documentation of space-vehicle design criteria for structures. As an internationally-
known pioneering researcher on laminar-flow control and transition from laminar to turbulent flow, he has
lectured on these disciplines for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the [North Atlantic
Treaty Organization’s] Advisory Group for Aeronautical Research and Development, the University of Texas
(Austin), George Washington University, University of Tennessee Space Institute, University of Virginia,
University of California (Davis), the Continuing Education Program of the University of Kansas for eight
years, and the Lewis and Ames Research Centers of NASA.

Monographs in Aerospace History

This is the thirteenth publication in a new series of special studies prepared under the auspices of the NASA
History Program. The Monographs in Aerospace History series is designed to provide a wide variety of
investigations relative to the history of aeronautics and space. These publications are intended to be tightly
focused in terms of subject, relatively short in length, and reproduced in inexpensive format to allow timely
and broad dissemination to researchers in aerospace history. Suggestions for additional publications in the
Monographs in Aerospace History series are welcome and should be sent to Roger D. Launius, Chief
Historian, Code ZH, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC, 20546. Previous
publications in this series are:

Launius, Roger D. and Gillette, Aaron K. Compilers. Toward a History of the Space Shuttle: An Annotated
Bibliography. (Monographs in Aerospace History, Number 1, 1992)

Launius, Roger D. and Hunley, J. D. Compilers. An Annotated Bibliography of the Apollo Program. (Mono-
graphs in Aerospace History, Number 2, 1994)

Launius, Roger D. Apollo: A Retrospective Analysis. (Monographs in Aerospace History, Number 3, 1994)

Hansen, James R. Enchanted Rendezvous: John C. Houbolt and the Genesis of the Lunar-Orbit Rendezvous
Concept. (Monographs in Aerospace History, Number 4, 1995)

Gorn, Michael H. Hugh L. Dryden’s Career in Aviation and Space. (Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 5,
1996).

Powers, Sheryll Goecke. Women in Aeronautical Engineering at the Dryden Flight Research Center, 1946-1994.
(Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 6, 1997).

Portree, David S.F. and Trevino, Robert C. Compilers. Walking to Olympus: A Chronology of Extravehicular
Activity (EVA). (Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 7, 1997).

lxxxiii
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Logsdon, John M. Moderator. The Legislative Origins of the National
Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958: Proceedings of an Oral History Workshop.
(Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 8, 1998).

Rumerman, Judy A. Compiler. U.S. Human Spaceflights: A Record of

Achievement, 1961-1998. (Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 9, 1998).

Portree, David S.F. NASA’s Origins and the Dawn of the Space Age.
(Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 10, 1998).

Logsdon, John M. Together in Orbit: The Origins of International

Cooperation in the Space Station Program. (Monographs in Aerospace History,
No. 11, 1998).

Phillips, W. Hewitt. Journey in Aeronautical Research: A Career at NASA

Langley Research Center. (Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 12, 1998).

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