"Bamberg Speed-Measuring Station" (Air Service Information Circular (Aviation) Vol. IV, No. 397), 1922-08-29, 1923-02-15

Item — Box: MC-019-001, Folder: 001.A.016

Identifier: 20141402

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Document Type: Technical Research Report Authority: Government Military (authoritative reference) Document Number: Air Service Information Circular (Aviation) Vol. IV, No. 397 (dated February 15, 1923), based on McCook Field Report Serial No. 2008 (dated August 29, 1922).

Scope: Report prepared by E. F. Bacon, Equipment Section, Engineering Division, Air Service, McCook Field.

Contents: "OBJECT. The object of this report is to furnish information for the installation and operation of the Bamberg speed measuring station.

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION. The position of an aircraft in space can be determined if from two stations a known distance apart simultaneous readings are taken of the horizontal and vertical angles of the aircraft. If the readings are taken together every second, the course of the aircraft can be plotted both on a horizontal and vertical plane. (See fig. 1.) By computing the distance traveled in one second in each plane, the ground speed and the rate of ascent or descent are found. The absolute speed can be computed by adding vectorially the ground speed and the velocity of ascent or descent. The true air speed can be determined by means of a so-called wind star. This method is explained in detail under "Calculation of results."

The Bamberg speed measuring station consists of three recording theodolites, two of which are placed at the ends of a base line and the third at a point about midway between. Photographs of the horizontal and vertical scales are taken simultaneously at the three theodolites, the middle station serving as a check for the end stations. The instruments record together, due to the fact that the control circuit is a series arrangement of the shutter-trip-ping magnets. This control circuit can be closed either by a key or contact chronometer in the control house, or by the handle switch on one of the theodolites. The mechanism of the theodolite is such that the instant the current in the control circuit is stopped, the camera is recocked by a magnetic clutch energized by the local theodolite battery."

Dates

Creation: 1922-08-29
Publication: 1923-02-15

Creator

Bacon, E. F. (Author, Person)
United States. Army. Air Service (1917-1926) (Publisher, Organization)
United States. Army. Air Service. Engineering Division (Editor of compilation, Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research in the Archives & Special Collections reading room. Handling guidelines and use restrictions will be communicated and enforced by archives staff members.

Extent

1 Issue

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Folder Contents

Items in the same folder (ID #s): 20141389, 20141390, 20141391, 20141393, 20141398, 20141400, 20141402, 20141407, 20141411, 20141412, 20141413, 20141414, 20141416, 20141417, 20141418, 20141419, 20141420, 20141421, 20141422 and 20141423.

Digital Scan Location

spc-aehs-000239

Format & Physical Description

Format: stapled, loose-leaf booklet, 8.5”x11” (12 pages including cover, with the last three pages blank). Includes black & white circuit diagrams and drawings. Staples have been removed.

Publication Data

Publication Data: "Published by the Chief of the Air Service, Washington, D.C." Printed in 1923 by the Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. In upper left: "File D 13.3 / 89".