Eight-Foot High Speed Tunnel

The Eight-Foot High Speed Tunnel featured reinforced concrete walls one foot thick and operated with a 16,000 horsepower electric motor generating near-sound speed airflow.

Constructed in 1936 during the Public Works Administration era, this wind tunnel facility advanced aircraft testing technology through World War II until its closure in 1956.

The tunnel contributed to aerospace engineering by enabling the first large-scale testing of actual aircraft sections and advancing transonic flight research methods.

Engineers used the continuous-flow system to conduct extended duration tests on aircraft models, obtaining precise data about their aerodynamic performance.

The facility incorporated the first slotted throat design in 1950, enabling accurate measurements of aircraft behavior at speeds between Mach 0.7 and Mach 1.4.

Location: Virginia

Inception: 1936

GPS coordinates: 37.08030,-76.34140

Latest update: March 5, 2025 22:51