The Phenomenon of Buffeting: The Aeronautical Research Committee in an Accident Report call Attention to its Importance

THE Accidents Investigation Sub‐Committee of the Aeronautical Research Committee has issued a detailed technical report on the accident to the Junkers F.13‐type aeroplane G‐AAZK which occurred at Meopham, Kent, on July 21, 1930. The report, which fills ninety‐two pages, gives a complete account of the researches and technical investigations that were made at the instigation of the Sub‐Committee, much of which is of great technical interest. It is impossible here to do more than give a brief summary of the circumstances of the accident and the inquiries which led to the rejection of a number of theories of the cause, leading to the final conclusion that it was due to a phenomenon called “Buffeting,” which is defined as “an irregular oscillation of the tail unit, in which the tail‐plane bends rapidly up and down and the elevators move in an erratic manner.” It is caused by the eddies given off by the wings at large angles of incidence and is, the Sub‐Committee state, quite distinct from flutter, which, in the case of machines of the Junkers F.13‐type would develop only at speeds above 250 m.p.h.