Atmospheric Wind Tunnel #1, 1920s
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 NACA and it was home to some of the most advanced research equipment and scientists/engineers during the golden age of aviation development. This reputation for excellence had very humble origins, beginning with the dedication of the first federally funded wind tunnel on June 11, 1920. The 5 foot Atmospheric Wind Tunnel #1 (AWT), in conjunction with the dedication of Langley. 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.
Size: 4170px × 3265px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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