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Full-Scale Wind Tunnel

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Coordinates: 37°4′51″N 76°20′30″W / 37.08083°N 76.34167°W / 37.08083; -76.34167
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Full-Scale Tunnel
Open test section of the Full-Scale Tunnel
LocationHampton, Virginia
Coordinates37°4′51″N 76°20′30″W / 37.08083°N 76.34167°W / 37.08083; -76.34167
Built1929-1931
ArchitectSmith L. DeFrance
NRHP reference No.85002796
VLR No.114-0142
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 3, 1985[2]
Designated NHLOctober 3, 1985[3]
Designated VLRFebruary 18, 1986[1]
Removed from NRHPAugust 25, 2014
Delisted NHLAugust 25, 2014

The Full-Scale Tunnel[4] (abbreviated FST, also known as the 30-by 60-Foot Tunnel[5]) was a wind tunnel at NASA's Langley Research Center. It was a National Historic Landmark.

In 1929, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics began construction of the world's first full-scale wind tunnel, where high-performance airplane would be tested. The design team was led by Smith J. DeFrance. The tunnel was completed in 1931 (dedicated 27 May) at a cost just under $900,000.[6] It was a double-return tunnel capable of moving air at speeds up to 118 miles/hour (190 km/h) through its circuit. It had a 30 ft by 60 ft (9.1 m x 18.3 m) open throat, which is capable of testing aircraft with spans of 40 ft (12.2 m). The wind tunnel was a double-return, atmospheric pressure tunnel with two fans powered by 4,000 hp electric motors.

The Vought O3U-1 biplane observation airplane was the first complete airplane tested in the tunnel. After that, it was used to test virtually every high-performance aircraft used by the United States in World War II. For much of the war, when it was operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the full-scale tunnel was the only tunnel in the free world large enough to perform these tests.

After the war, many types of aircraft were tested in the tunnel including the Harrier jump jet fighter, the F-16, the American supersonic transport, the Space Shuttle and Lunar Landing Test Vehicle. During the 1950s and 1960s, the tunnel was modified and upgraded several times. The principal improvement was adding the ability to test free-flying scale models in the test throat.[7] The wind tunnel was in use through the 2000s, testing procedures such as free-flight and high angle of attack.[5][8]

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1985.[3][5] However, despite this designation and the efforts of some aviation historians, demolition of the tunnel began in 2010.[9][10][11] It was documented before its demolition, with the fan blades being salvaged for display.[10][11] In 2014 its landmark designation was withdrawn and it was removed from the National Register of Historic Places.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  3. ^ a b "Full Scale 30- By 60-Foot Tunnel". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on December 27, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
  4. ^ Langley News (NASA)
  5. ^ a b c Harry A. Butowsky (May 15, 1984), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: 30- by 60-Foot Tunnel / Full Scale Tunnel (pdf), National Park Service and Accompanying nine photos, from 1931, c. 1938, 1950, 1959, 1978, 1981, and 1983 (32 KB)
  6. ^ NASA
  7. ^ NASA Langley's 30- by 60-foot Tunnel
  8. ^ NASA Langley's National Historic Landmarks Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Michael Klesius (September 10, 2009). "Last Breath". Air & Space Magazine. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  10. ^ a b Denise Lineberry (July 30, 2010). "Langley's Full-Scale Tunnel Lives On". The Researcher News. NASA Langley Research Center. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  11. ^ a b "Additional Photos for 30 X 60 Full-Scale Tunnel: Demolition". NASA Langley Research Center. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  12. ^ "Withdrawn Designation: Full Scale 30- x 60-Foot Tunnel". National Park Service. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
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