Atmospheric Wind Tunnel 1, 1920s

by Science Source

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Atmospheric Wind Tunnel 1, 1920s

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Science Source

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The honeycombed, screened center of this open-circuit air intake for Langley's first wind tunnel insured a steady, non-turbulent flow of air. Two mechanics pose near the entrance end of the actual tunnel, where air was pulled into the test section through a honeycomb arrangement to smooth the flow. The Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory was the first facility built by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). Langley would be the only NACA test facility until the 1940s and it was home to some of the most advanced research equipment and scientists/engineers during the golden age of aviation development. However, this reputation for excellence had very humble origins, beginning with the dedication of the first federally funded wind tunnel on June 11, 1920. In a wind tunnel, a stationary object is placed in a tube-like structure and wind is created with a fan, providing researchers an opportunity to observe airflow around the object and the aerodynamic forces that act upon it. Wind tunnels are essential to the creation and testing of aircraft, allowing for experiments on designs without posing major risks to the pilots or to the aircraft. Wind tunnels have been in international use since the 1800s; only a handful of wind tunnels existed in the United States before 1920, including the Wright brothers' tunnel in Dayton, Ohio. On June 11, 1920, the NACA dedicated its first wind tunnel, the 5 foot Atmospheric Wind Tunnel #1 (AWT), in conjunction with the dedication of Langley. Some research had already begun before the dedication, but with the creation of the AWT, the Langley lab was able to begin routine operations and focus its efforts on the field of aeronautics

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April 5th, 2016

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