The Calculated Flight Path of the U.S.S. Macon

Author: Whelan, Thomas Murray

Year: 1936

Degree: Master's thesis

Advisor: von Kármán, Theodore

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Aeronautics

DOI: 10.7907/PC07-4F03

Abstract

These calculations are concerned with the flight path of the Macon after the loss of the upper fin and the deflation of the three after gas cells. Taking into account the actual flight conditions, the question was raised whether the ship would rise to an altitude of 4800 feet. For at this altitude, which the record shows was actually reached, the ship had exceeded pressure height by about 2000'. In going over pressure height, the ship loses approximately 3% of her lift for every 1000 feet. Hence 4800 feet corresponds to a heaviness of nearly 11 tons. It was felt that if this additional heaviness could have been avoided, the ship might have been flown safely in spite of the loss of some 20 tons of lift from the three after cells. The calculations were undertaken to determine whether the aerodynamic and aerostatic forces alone were sufficient to force the ship up to 4800 feet or whether there were external forces acting, i. e. gust forces.

Files