Eight-Foot High Speed Tunnel

The Eight-Foot High Speed Tunnel is a wind tunnel facility at Langley Research Center in Hampton with reinforced concrete walls and a powerful electric motor system designed to produce high-speed airflow for testing purposes. The structure enabled engineers to run continuous tests over extended periods and gather detailed information about how aircraft models behaved under extreme flight conditions.

The tunnel was built in 1936 during the New Deal era and quickly became central to aircraft development efforts during World War II. Its operations ended in 1956 after decades of enabling key advances in aerodynamic science and flight technology.

This wind tunnel became the place where aircraft designers systematically tested new ideas at high speeds, making such testing an essential part of how people developed faster planes. The facility shaped the way engineers understood and approached the practical challenge of designing aircraft that could fly near the speed of sound.

The site is part of an active research center and not open as a regular public attraction, so visits require special arrangements and official permission beforehand. It is recommended to contact Langley Research Center in advance if you are interested in learning more about possible access options and guided visits.

In 1950, the tunnel was upgraded with a groundbreaking slotted throat design in its test section that allowed engineers to take more precise measurements of aircraft performance. This innovation enabled the tunnel to explore flight conditions that had been too difficult to test accurately before.

Location: Virginia

Inception: 1936

GPS coordinates: 37.08030,-76.34140

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:12