Stalling tests on a Blenheim

Abstract

In extension of earlier flight tests it was required to investigate how accidental stalling and spinning of a Blenheim is affected by the setting of flaps, engine gills and throttles. The behaviour of the aircraft was tested at low speeds, both in straight stalls and also When one engine was cut in the climb. The tests included an investigation of some modifications to the wing. All of the above settings affect the behaviour of the Blenheim at and near the stall ; closing the gills and opening the throttles usually both have an adverse effect, either by reducing the warning of imminent stalling or by making the stall more violent. With gills closed and throttles partly open the stall is violent with flaps and undercarriage either up or down. In the engine-cutting tests the aircraft drops the corresponding wing suddenly, and at the lower speeds the falling wing partially stalls. The experiments with modified wing-section and wing-tip plan-form resulted in some improvement in stalling and behaviour after engine-cutting.