Guide to the George B. McCullough Papers,
1943-1965
Guide prepared by Danielle Lopez
NASA Ames History Office
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 207-1
Moffett Field, California 94035
Phone: (650) 604-1032
Email: ARC-DL-history@mail.nasa.gov
URL: http://history.arc.nasa.gov
Guide to the George B. McCullough Papers,
1943-1965
NASA Ames History Office
NASA Ames Research Center
Contact Information:
- NASA Ames History Office
- NASA Ames Research Center
- Mail Stop 207-1
- Moffett Field, CA 94035
- Phone: (650) 604-1032
- Email: ARC-DL-history@mail.nasa.gov
- URL: http://history.arc.nasa.gov
- Collection processed by:
- Danielle Lopez
- Date Completed:
- October 2016
Descriptive Summary
Title: George B. McCullough Papers
Date (inclusive): 1943-1965
Collection Number: PP16.04
Creator:
McCullough, George B.
Extent:
Number of containers: 2
Volume: .70 cubic feet
Repository:
Ames Research Center,
Ames History Office
Moffett Field, California 94035
Abstract: The George B. McCullough Papers contain personal research materials and publications including data charts, equations, article
drafts, NACA Technical Notes, and NASA Technical Notes. The collection as a whole documents McCullough's investigations into
airfoils, helicopter rotors, and launch vehicles.
Language:
English
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright does not apply to United States government records. For non-government
material, researcher must contact the original creator.
Preferred Citation
NASA Ames History Office, NASA Ames Research Center. Moffett Field, California. PP16.04, George B. McCullough Papers, [Container
number]: [Folder number]. [Identification of item]. [Date, if available].
Abbreviated Citation
NASA ARC. PP16.04, [Container number]: [Folder number]. [Identification of item]. [Date, if available].
Separated Material
A 1952 photograph of NACA personnel of Ames Aeronautical Laboratory was separated from the collection and relocated into the
Archives Reference Collection, AFS1070.8A.
Custodial History
Formerly in the possession of History San Jose, all George B. McCullough materials related to NACA and NASA were transferred
to the NASA Ames History Office. Records not related to aeronautics remain with History San Jose.
Acquisition Information
Donated by History San Jose on March 28, 2016 (Accession 2016-004).
Biographical History
George B. McCullough came to work at NACA Ames as an aeronautical engineer in the early 1940s, soon after earning a degree
from Stanford University. During the course of McCullough's employment, the NACA's theoretical research on wing design was
extensive, driving the need for experimental work. McCullough started out conducting investigations on airfoil wing design
and theory. Contributing to a number of NACA and NASA Technical Notes, McCullough's work on boundary layer profiles, stalling
mechanics, leading edges and interpretation of test data helped advance aircraft wing design.
McCullough's research fell into three main research areas: NACA airfoils, helicopter rotors, and the effects of ground wind
loads on launch vehicles. His investigations were mainly conducted in the 7-by-10-foot wind tunnel, 40-by-80-foot wind tunnel,
and 12-foot pressure wind tunnel. McCullough authored and co-authored fifteen NACA and NASA technical publications related
to this research.
The first research area focused primarily on airfoil sections. McCullough worked on the first set NACA airfoil designs. His
investigations into wing sections were conducted in the 7- by-10-foot wind tunnels. Donald E. Gault and McCullough were the
first to study new types of stalling mechanics for airfoil sections required for high-speed flight. The studies led to some
of the first published technical notes on airfoils with boundary layer control and stall mechanics, which are still referenced
by aeronautical engineers today. The breadth of this research can be found in his NACA Technical Notes from 1948 to 1955.
While studying airfoil sections, McCullough also began investigating helicopter rotors and their wing designs in the late
1950s. John McCloud and McCullough performed some of the first helicopter tests in the 40-by-80-foot wind tunnel. Together
they calculated and measured stall boundaries based on rotor torque indications. As outlined in their NACA Technical Notes,
McCullough investigated the performance advances of delaying receding blade stall by the use of blade sections with increased
maximum lift. McCullough published two technical notes related to helicopter rotors.
McCullough's third area of research involved models of various launch vehicles (rockets) for NASA, not long after the organization's
transition from NACA. McCullough studied wind loads on rocket models in the 12-foot pressure wind tunnel for the purpose of
preventing the rockets from blowing over on the launchpad. Studying wind loads involved calculating the desirable Reynolds
Number, developing a model with conduits, and determining the velocity of the base bend. McCullough produced three NASA Technical
Notes as a result of this research.
Although this was not a main focus of his research, McCullough supported one additional set of wing designs before his retirement
in the late 1960s. A 7-by-10-foot wind tunnel group consisting of Robert Dannenberg, Wallace Davis, and McCullough mocked
up wing designs of mounted jet-engine nacelles, intended for large multi-jet engine airplanes. The designs evolved into single-
and twin-engine nacelles mounted on the lower surface of the wing. The group provided the base design of the nacelles of the
first jet bombers built in this country. Unlike the other three research areas, McCullough did not author any publications
related to this work.
Sources Consulted:
Gault, Donald E. and McCullough, George B.
Boundary-Layer and Stalling Characteristics of the NACA 64A066 Airfoil Section. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. Moffett Field, CA: NACA TN 1923, 1949.
Hartman, Edwin P.
Adventures in Research: A History of Ames Research Center 1941-1965. Washington, D.C. NASA SP-4313, 1970.
McCloud, John L. and McCullough, George B.
Wind-tunnel Tests of a Full-Scale Helicopter Rotor with Symmetrical and with Cambered Blade Sections at Advance Ratio from
0.3 to 0.4. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. Moffett Field, CA: NACA TN 4367, 1958.
Indexing Terms
The following terms may be used to index this collection.
Corporate Name
United States. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Personal Name
Buell, Donald A.
Dannenberg, Robert
Gault, Donald E.
McCloud, John L.
McCullough, George B.
Wallace, Davis
Subjects
Aerodynamic Research
Aerofoils--Research
Boundary layer control
Launch vehicles (Astronautics) -- Design and construction
Leading edges (Aerodynamics)
Reynolds number
Rotors (Helicopters)
Stalling (Aerodynamics)
Wind tunnel testing
Geographic Names
Moffett Field (Calif.)
Scope and Content
The George B. McCullough collection contains documentation of McCullough's investigations into airfoils, helicopter rotors,
and launch vehicles. Included are test data and engineering reference materials, and the associated NACA and NASA technical
publications.
Series one consists of McCullough's research into boundary-layer profiles, static orifices, stall mechanics, and airfoil section
stalling. Included are wind tunnel test booklets, data charts and graphs, handwritten mathematical equations, technical publication
drafts, and other material related to his research.
Series two consists of McCullough's research results in the form of thirteen NACA and NASA Technical Notes. The publications
include experiment summaries, test descriptions, results, and data charts. Each publication presents detailed technical studies
conducted in several wind tunnels
Arrangement of the George B. McCullough Papers
The George B. McCullough collection was received with no apparent order. The records are arranged in two series, each one
organized chronologically.
The papers are arranged into two series:
- I. Research Materials, 1943-1960
- II. Publications, 1948-1965
I
Research Materials
1943-1960
Physical Description: 18 folders
Scope and Content Note
This series contains documentation of McCullough's research into NACA airfoil design and helicopter rotor design, as well
as on wind loads on launch vehicles.
As part of his research process, McCullough conducted wind tunnel tests, often working out and re-working data analyses by
hand. The series includes data tables plotted onto oversized charts to illustrate wing curvature or wing speed and calculations
pertaining to orifice meter flow measurements, leading-edge suction slot calculations, and boundary layer profiles. Handwritten
drafts of articles and papers contain details differing from what is found in the published versions.
II
Publications
1948-1965
Physical Description: 13 folders
Scope and Content Note
This series contains some of the NACA and NASA Technical Notes authored by McCullough. They detail his investigations into
boundary layer, stalling, and leading-edge characteristics of airfoils and helicopter rotors, as well as aerodynamic loads
on launch vehicles. These technical notes include summaries, results, visual observations, notes on anomalies, photographs
of the models, and corresponding data charts. While series one contains the supportive work necessary to develop these investigations,
this second series presents the results and conclusions of McCullough's research
Included in this series are reports describing two-dimensional airfoil tests McCullough performed in the 7-by-10-foot wind
tunnel, tests on helicopter rotors in the 40-by-80-foot wind tunnel, and wind load tests performed in the 12-foot pressure
wind tunnel on models of various launch vehicles. The purpose of the launch vehicle tests was to examine wind loads to determine
a tipping point. McCullough worked extensively on all aspects of wing design and the publications showcase the progression
of those investigations.
Box 1, Folder 1
Charts for Computations, 1943-1946
Box 1, Folder 2
A Survey of Existing Data on Boundary-Layer Control, 1944
Box 1, Folder 3
Lift and Drag of Wings with Small Span, 1947
Box 1, Folder 4
Computer Instructions S*, O, and H Boundary-Layer Profiles, 1949
Box 1, Folder 5
Hayter and Delany: Calibration of #2 and #10 Pitots + #2 Wind Tunnel, 1949
Box 1, Folder 6
Method for Integrating Pressure Distribution, 1949
Box 1, Folder 7
Reynolds Number vs. q for various chords, 1950
Box 1, Folder 8
George B. McCullough General Information, Ames Lab N.A.C.A, 1951
Box 1, Folder 9
George B. McCullough General Information, Ames Lab N.A.C.A, 1951
Box 1, Folder 10
George B. McCullough General Information, Ames Lab N.A.C.A, 1951
Box 1, Folder 11
Test 126, 64A010-Leading Edge Slat, 1951
Box 1, Folder 12
Helicopter Charts, 1955-1956
Box 1, Folder 15
Geometric Correlation of Airfoil Section Stalling, undated
Box 1, Folder 16
Helicopter Notes for Future Binding, undated
Box 1, Folder 17
Harmonic Analysis, undated
Box 2, Folder 1
Gault, Donald E. and McCullough, George B.
An Experimental Investigation of an NACA 63₁-012 Airfoil Section with Leading-Edge Suction Slots. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. Moffett Field, CA: NACA TN 1683, 1948.
Box 2, Folder 2
Gault, Donald E. and McCullough, George B.
Boundary-Layer and Stalling Characteristics of the NACA 64A066 Airfoil Section. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. Moffett Field, CA: NACA TN 1923, 1949.
Box 2, Folder 3
Gault, Donald E. and McCullough, George B.
An Experimental Investigation of the NACA 63₁-012 Airfoil Section with Leading-Edge and Midchord Suction Slots. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. Moffett Field, CA: NACA TN 2041, 1950.
Box 2, Folder 4
Haire, William M. and McCullough, George B.
Low-Speed Characteristics of Four Cambered, 10 Percent Thick NACA Airfoil Sections. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. Moffett Field, CA: TN 2177, 1950.
Box 2, Folder 5
Gault, Donald E. and McCullough, George B.
Examples of Three Representatives Types of Airfoil-Section Stall at Low Speed. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. Moffett Filed, CA: NACA TN 2502, 1951.
Box 2, Folder 6
McCullough, George B. and Weiberg, James A.
Wind-Tunnel Investigation at Low Speed of a Twisted and Cambered Wing Swept Back 63° with Vortex Generators and Fences. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. Moffett Field, CA: NACA RM-A52A17, 1952
Box 2, Folder 7
Kelly, John and McCullough, George B.
Aerodynamic Loads on a Leading-Edge Flap and a Leading-Edge Slot on the NACA 64A010 Airfoil Section. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. Moffett Field, CA: NACA TN 3220, 1954.
Box 2, Folder 8
McCullough, George B.
The Effect of Reynolds Number on the Stalling Characteristics and Pressure Distributions of Four Moderately Thin Airfoil Sections. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. Moffett Field, CA: NACA TN 3524, 1955.
Box 2, Folder 9
McCloud, John L. and McCullough, George B.
Wind-Tunnel Tests of a Full-Scale Helicopter Rotor with Symmetrical and with Cambered Blade Sections at Advance Ratio from
0.3 to 0.4
. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. Moffett Field, CA: NACA TN 4367, 1958
Box 2, Folder 10
McCloud, John L. and McCullough George B.
Comparison of Calculated and Measured Stall Boundaries of a Helicopter Rotor at Advance Ratios from 0.3 to 0.4. Ames Research Center. Moffett Field, CA: NASA TN D-73, 1959.
Box 2, Folder 11
Buell, Donald A., McCullough, George B. and Steinmetz, William J.
A Wind-Tunnel Investigation of Ground-Wind Loads on Axisymmetric Launch Vehicles. Ames Research Center. Moffett Field CA: NASA TN D-1893, 1963.
Box 2, Folder 12
Buell, Donald A.
Some Sources of Ground-Wind Loads in Launch Vehicles. Ames Research Center. Moffett Field, CA: NASA TM X-54, 024, 1964.
Box 2, Folder 13
McCullough, George B. and Steinmetz, William J.
A Wind-Tunnel Study of Ground-Wind Loads on Launch Vehicles including the Effects of Conduits and Adjacent Structures. Ames Research Center. Moffett Field, CA: NASA TN D-2889, 1965.
