Investigations of the Behaviour of Aircraft When Making a Forced Landing on Water (Ditching)

Abstract

This investigation reviews the work done up to 1948 on the behaviour of aircraft when making a forced lending on water. It is confined in detail to the tests made on hydrodynamic and structural performance in the Free Launching Tank at the Royal Aircraft Establishment and the Controlled Launching Tank at the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment, and includes an analysis of the air-sea rescue questionnaires sent in by air crews who have experienced actual ditchings. Reference is also made to parallel work in the U.S.A. and Germany. The work done is primarily concerned with the contributions made to the Air-Sea Rescue Organisation in the 1939-45 war period and the determination of the ditching characteristics and requirements for post-war civil and military aircraft.