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National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Technical Notes - Notes on the NACA Control Force Recorder

This note emphasizes the desirability of using recording in-
struments in the investigation of the characteristics of airplanes
with particular reference to the National Advisory CommitteeLfor
Aeronautics control force recorder. The note contains photographs,
records, and a description of the instrument which was developed
by the technical staff of the National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics to be used as a laboratory instrument for investiga-
tions on different types of aircraft.

One of the prime requisites of a_successful airplane is that
it be easy on the controls. If any appreciable force is necessary
to hold an airplane on a steady course, the pilot would soon tire
on a long flight, and the added hazard of a tired pilot is not, of
course, justified. On the other hand, in the design and construe;
tion of airplanes of the pursuit and combat types, the controls
must. be such that it is possible to maneuver with ease and rapidity
and consequently should require a minimum of effort to manipulate
the controls.

In investigating the characteristics 0. an airplane, it is
necessary to determine whether the airplane is easily controlled
and maneuvered. The usual method to obtain this information is to
have the airplane flown by several pilots who submit a report
of their opinion as to the airplane‘s behavior. This method is
not satisfactory or accurate as the different pilots often submit
different reports on the same airplane. The time required to de-
termine the characteristics of an airplane is considerably reduced
by the installation of recording instruments which can be quickly __“
installed and which will register the movements of the airplane
as well as the movements of and forces on the controls. Laboratory
recording instruments are being-developed at the Langley Memorial
Aeronautical Laboratory to accomplish this purpose and the object
of this note is to describe the instrument for recording control
forces.