WINDTUNNELSof the naca and nasa WINDTUNNELSof the naca and nasa J. Lawrence LeewithRobert S. Arrighi Office of CommunicationsNASA History OfficeWashington, DC 20546 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names:Lee, J. Lawrence, 1948- author. | Arrighi, Robert S., 1969- author. | United States. NASAHistory Division (2021- ), issuing body. Title:Wind tunnels of the NACA and NASA / J. Lawrence Lee with Robert S. Arrighi. Other titles:NASA SP (Series) ; 4320. Description:Washington, DC : National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Officeof Communications : NASA History Division, 2025. | Series: NASA SP ; 2025-4320 | Includesbibliographic references and index. | Summary: “This book provides a rigorous study of NASA’s windtunnels, which have been key to much of the Agency’s aeronautical successes. Utilizing a convenientformat to convey the special characteristics, technical specifications, and research highlights of over100 individual wind tunnels, entries are organized by NASA Center with a narrative essay describingeach Center's role in wind tunnel research and then delving into the details of its wind tunnels, withan eye towards historic preservation”— Provided by publisher. Identifiers:LCCN 2024003154 (print) | LCCN 2024003155 (ebook) | ISBN 9781626830783 (paper-back) | ISBN 9781626830790 (ebook) Subjects:LCSH: United States. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics—History. | UnitedStates. National Aeronautics and Space Administration—History. | Wind tunnels—Research—UnitedStates—History. | Aeronautics—Research—United States—History. Classification:LCC TL567.W5 (print) | LCC TL567.W5 (ebook) | DDC 629.134/52—dc23/eng/20240130| SUDOC NAS 1.21:2025-4320 LC record available athttps://lccn.loc.gov/2024003154 LC ebook record available athttps://lccn.loc.gov/2024003155 TABLE OF CONTENTS AcknowledgmentsixPreface by Robert ArrighixvForeword by Robert PearcexixIntroduction by J. Lawrence LeexxiiiLangley Research Center1Atmospheric Wind Tunnel No. 16Variable-Density Tunnel12Propeller Research Tunnel2011-Inch High-Speed Tunnel275-Foot Vertical Wind Tunnel/4- by 6-Foot Vertical Tunnel337- by 10-Foot Atmospheric Wind Tunnel38Full-Scale Tunnel4224-Inch High-Speed Tunnel5115-Foot Vertical Spin Tunnel (Free-Spinning Tunnel)568-Foot High-Speed Tunnel/8-Foot Transonic Tunnel635-Foot Free-Flight Tunnel72Two-Dimensional Low-Turbulence Tunnel (Icing Tunnel)76 12-Foot Free-Flight Tunnel/ 12-Foot Low-Speed Tunnel8219-Foot Pressure Tunnel9120-Foot Vertical Spin Tunnel97Low-Turbulence Pressure Tunnel10316-Foot High-Speed Tunnel/ 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel110Stability Tunnel1209-Inch Supersonic Tunnel1297- by 10-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel1347- by 10-Foot High-Speed Wind Tunnel142Gust Tunnel1494.5-Foot Flutter Tunnel15411-Inch Hypersonic Tunnel159Annular Transonic Tunnel1674-Foot Supersonic Pressure Tunnel17226-Inch Transonic Blowdown Tunnel180Hypersonic Facilities Complex1844- by 4-Foot Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel202Pilot Model Expansion Tube2109- by 6-Foot Thermal Structures Tunnel2148-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel219Transonic Dynamics Tunnel2257-Inch High-Temperature Tunnel2368-Foot High-Temperature Tunnel2412-Foot Hypersonic Tunnel25031-Inch Mach 10 Tunnel2556-Inch Expansion Tube/ Hypersonic Pulse Facility26014- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel2666- by 19-Inch Transonic Tunnel27320-Inch Mach 6 CF4Tunnel2780.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel2826- by 28-Inch Transonic Tunnel/ 20-Inch Variable Supersonic Tunnel288Scramjet Test Complex294 15-Inch High-Temperature Tunnel30128- by 40-Inch Basic Aerodynamics Research Tunnel306National Transonic Facility312Preflight Jet Facility at the Wallops Island Station323 Ames Research Center349 7- by 10- Foot Wind Tunnel Number 1/ 7- by 10-Foot Wind Tunnel Number 235116-Foot High-Speed Tunnel/ 14-Foot Transonic Tunnel357National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex3671- by 3.5-Foot High-Speed Tunnel3801- by 3-Foot Supersonic Tunnel Number 1/ Propulsion Simulator Calibration Laboratory3861- by 3-Foot Supersonic Tunnel Number 239412-Foot Pressure Wind Tunnel3986- by 6-Foot Supersonic Tunnel408Supersonic Free-Flight Wind Tunnel41610- by 14-Inch Hypersonic Tunnel4222- by 2-Foot Transonic Tunnel426Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel433Atmospheric Entry Simulator444Pressurized Ballistic Range450Hypervelocity Free-Flight Facility4551-Foot Hypervelocity Shock Tunnel4643.5-Foot Hypersonic Tunnel470Hypersonic Helium Tunnel476Electric Arc Shock Tube481Mach 50 Helium Tunnel487High Reynolds Number Facility493 John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field509 Altitude Wind Tunnel513Icing Research Tunnel527Small Supersonic Tunnels5358- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel/9- by 15-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel542 Abe Silverstein10- by 10-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel556Engine Research Building Wind Tunnels568Propulsion Systems Laboratory58342-Inch Hypersonic Tunnel Facility596 George C. Marshall Space Flight Center611 7- by 7-Inch Bisonic Wind Tunnel61314- by 14-Inch Trisonic Wind Tunnel617High Reyno