Langley Full-Scale Tunnel, Research wind tunnel at Langley Research Center, Virginia, United States
The Langley Full-Scale Tunnel is a wind tunnel facility in Virginia designed with a double-return configuration and an open test section for evaluating entire aircraft. The structure allowed engineers to simulate flight conditions and measure aerodynamic performance on full-size vehicles.
Construction began in 1929 under the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, making it the first full-scale wind tunnel of its kind worldwide for testing high-performance aircraft. It became central to aeronautical advances throughout the 20th century.
During World War II, the facility operated continuously as the only location in the free world large enough to test military aircraft performance.
Visitors should know that the facility no longer stands and can only be explored through historical records and documentation. Archives and photographs provide insight into the research conducted there.
The facility tested experimental aircraft including the Harrier jump jet, the Space Shuttle, and the Lunar Landing Test Vehicle. These machines represented major milestones in aviation and space exploration.
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