Speeds and Normal Accelerations of .Boeing Clipper Aircraft on North and South Atlantic Routes

Abstract

This report presents results obtained from V-g recorders fitted to Boeing Clipper aircraft on the North and South Atlantic routes between September, 1944 and May, 1946. The records cover about 3,300 flying hours and show that the maximum speed recorded is 215 m.p.h. (I.A.S.) and the maximum upward and downward accelerations are 2.3g and -0.3g respectively. The two main groups of records considered differ from one another not only in respect of route but also in seasonal conditions and in proportion of flights made in wartime. Therefore, differences between the results cannot be simply ascribed to differences of route. It appears from the analysis that tile maximum speed likely to be attained in a large flying time is somewhat greater in one group (North Atlantic) than in the other (South Atlantic) and that the maximum accelerations on the other hand are likely to be less for the former than the latter.