“FLUTTER OF DEATH”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10377, 7 April 1927, Page 5

“FLUTTER OF DEATH”

PROBLEM OF THE AIR

PILOT'S DARING EXPERIMENT

A grim mystery of the air, which, because of its toll of lives, has earned the name of the'“flutter of death,” is discussed in a report published by the British Aeronautical Research Committee. Sometimes, while a machine has been flying at high speed, it has given a sudden “shudder,” accompanied by a vibration of the wings. So serious has the problem become with the attainment of higher speeds in aircraft, that investigations have been carried out in Britain, the United States and Holland.

The British report describes experiments in which pilots, equipped with parachutes, have dived aeroplanes at more than 200 robes -n hour in order to produce and study symptoms in mid-air. An important point already established by the investigation is that “flutter” originates probably in the ailerons or hinged balancing surfaces at the tips of the wings. A sudden movement of these may set up a vibration which is communicated to the rear spar of the wings. To prove this a machine which had previously developed “flutter” was fitted with a new type, of “aileron ” modified in shape and control. An airman then dived the machine at 210 miles an hour, operating the ailerons violently as lie did so. without auy sign of flutter developing.