UPDATE #31 - September 4, 1998

PART 1: Upcoming Chats
PART 2: Wright Flyer Passes Pathfinder Test
PART 3: Subscribing & Unsubscribing: How to do it

UPCOMING CHATS

How would you like to have a NASA Aerospace Team member come to your 
classroom and answers questions? Well... we invite you to the next best
thing a QuestChat. Start thinking of some great questions!

Friday, September 11, 1998, 10 AM Pacific Time: Brent Wellman, deputy
project manager, 2GCHAS
                
Brent works with a computer program called the Second-Generation
Comprehensive Helicopter Analysis System (2GCHAS) to create models of 
helicopters or similar aircraft. He and other engineers use the computer
program to determine solutions to certain conditions they enter into
a computer. Brent also manages engineers outside NASA, is
learning how to operate a large wind tunnel, and investigates problems
that
occur within his field of work. 

Read Brent Wellman's autobiography prior to joining this chat. 
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/team/wellman.html
Registration for this chat.
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/chats/index.html#chatting

Tuesday, September 15, 1998, 9:30 AM Pacific Time: Stephen Jaeger,
aeroacoustics engineer
              
Aeroacoustics is the study of aircraft noise. Stephen's
responsibilities in this area include developing tools for measuring
aircraft noise, and conducting acoustics research on wind tunnel models of
supersonic jets, airliners and aircraft engines. He also builds new test
instruments, designs equipment, analyzes noise data, and presents the
results of wind tunnel tests. 

Read Stephen Jaeger's autobiography and field journals prior to joining
this chat. 
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/team/jaeger.html
Registration for this chat.
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/chats/index.html#chatting

WRIGHT FLYER PASSES PATHFINDER TEST

by Jack Cherne, Chairman, Wright Flyer Project

September 4, 1998

Over the August 29-30, weekend, a team of members of the American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Los Angeles Section's
Wright Flyer Project, with the help of Pete Zell and two of NASA Ames
Research Center staff, subjected the Wright Flyer to a pathfinder test of
mounting the airplane on the sting.

The 1903 replica of the Wright Flyer, built by the AIAA Los Angeles
Section, has been on display in the historic Hangar No. 1 at Moffett Field
since it was delivered to NASA on April 28th of this year.  Hangar No. 1
was built by the Navy to house the Macon Class Dirigibles.

The sting which will be used to support the Flyer in the 80 x 120 foot
wind tunnel was brought over to Hangar No. 1.  However the mounting point
is currently standing only 12 feet above the ground rather than at the
approximate center of the tunnel during the wind tunnel test.

Original plans called for using a hoist to simulate the procedure of
lifting the airplane up and over the top of the tunnel.  However, the
portable crane was inoperative so the next solution was to use a fork
lift.  For a fork lift to be able to lift the complete airplane, the tines
would have to be 13.5 feet long and be able to lift 13 feet above the
ground.  The available equipment did not have these attributes so we had
to make do with what we had.

The canard assembly was removed to allow lifting the wing and tail
structure up a distance of 12.5 feet, but this was not high enough to
place the wing support structure on the end of the sting.  The sting was
movable in pitch allowing the balance on the end of the sting could be
brought in under the wing and raised to meet the airplane.  The problem of
bolting the two assemblies with 16 bolts proved to be quite a chore due to
the tight tolerances.  Perseverance prevailed and the connection was made.

The next step was to reassemble the canard assembly to the wing structure.
This was also made difficult by the problem of not having a fork lift with
a high enough lift.  Again, with the use of the tilting capability of both
the sting and the fork lift, the writer in a bucket crane and other team
members on ladders, the connection was made.

The excellent help we received from the NASA people saw a difficult task
completed and taught us what changes would have to be made before we make
the actual lift into the wind tunnel.  As if to accent our work, when we
were completed, the sun shown through the windows of the hangar and
focused on our airplane on the sting. You can see a photo of this at
http://k12-dev.arc.nasa.gov/aero/wright/team/fjournals/cherne/index.html

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