Archive Watch

Usaf Trainng Film “How an Airplane Flies: Drag Pt 2” 42644 (1949)

1949 · Short film · 14 min

Watch now On the Internet Archive

Synopsis

This film presents the resistance of air on the forward movement of aircrafts. It depicts the parasite drag as well as skin friction and how to combat or minimize the effects of the drag. It opens with a plane taking off from a runway and provides the information that as it takes off, the air moving under the wing creates lift which enables it to fly (:35). Drag is when air resists the movement of any flying object (:47). A demonstration of drag includes a couple walking together freely when sheltered by the wind (1:10) and how when winds are high it is more difficult to move forward against it (1:17). The greater the frontal area presented, the greater the resistance (1:23). A demonstration follows with oars in the water to show this more effectively (1:39). When the waters resistance is high, big swirls are seen and when the resistance is low small swirls are seen (2:04). A study of the movement of air is shown by blowing smoke through an apparatus (2:19). This makes the air flow visible and an object is set within the apparatus (2:24). A flat plate is first used (2:31) followed by a ball which creates a less violent swirl (2:41). A streamline shape is seen added with a tail and nose (3:02). The smoke moves smoothly over it’s surface (3:07). A balance is used to weigh various objects (3:23) connected to a swinging arm and scale plate (3:32). A pointer is shown which depicts when the object is balanced (3:36). The pointer is seen raised as a wind machine is directed at the…

Uploader's description on archive.org

Details

Running time
14 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

More like this