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103

Center:	Langley Research Center
Location:	Hampton, Virginia
Year Built:	1927
Historic Eligibility:
Important Tests:

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[top] History

The Propeller Research Tunnel was built in 1927 when NACA researchers tried to correlate their data with tests conducted at Stanford University. The design was a radical change from tunnels customarily built 5 feet in diameter. The 27-foot, 8-bladed propeller was powered by two diesel submarine engines from the Navy. The 20-foot stream of air reached 110 miles per hour.

One of the great advances in aeronautics, developed in this tunnel, was the NACA cowling which increased engine effectiveness without increasing costs. Other changes developed in the Propeller Research Tunnel included moving engine nacelles to the leading edge of the wing, and improved aircraft performance with retractable landing gear.

The building was demolished in 1950 and replaced by the 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel.

[top] 11-Inch Hypersonic Tunnel

One of the most important wind tunnels conceived and developed at Langley was the 11-inch Hypersonic Tunnel, which was used in pioneering efforts in critical hypersonic aerodynamics research for the nation’s high-speed aerospace programs. Designed and managed by John V. Becker and Charles H. McLellan, the tunnel was inspired by post-war inspections of German facilities used in the development of the V-2 rocket ballistic missile.

Becker’s enthusiasm and dedication to the concept coincided with accelerated interests by the NACA and the military in hypersonic aerodynamics. Proposed as a pilot facility for hypersonic testing, the tunnel was first operational in 1947 in the building previously occupied by the Langley Propeller Research Tunnel in the East Area. Arguably, one of the most valuable lessons learned from this facility was that "blowdown" or intermittent hypersonic tunnels could be used for meaningful research with relatively low cost compared to continuous-run tunnels.

After a period of great success in fundamental hypersonic experiments, the facility and its associated pressure and vacuum tanks were moved to the West Area in 1949 and located in Building 1229. The test section of the tunnel was located on the first floor in the area previously occupied by the free-flight apparatus control room.

The Langley 11-Inch Hypersonic Tunnel contributed critical data in the development of the X-15 hypersonic research aircraft and numerous generic research projects. It remained operational until 1973 when it was dismantled and later given to Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

[top] Photos

[top] Building

1925 Construction of Exit Cone	1925 Construction	1925 Construction	1926 Engine Foundation Construction	1926 Engine Room Construction
1926 Return Passage	View of Fan	1926 Submarine Engines to Power Tunnel	1926 Test Fuselage	1927 1st Full-scale Model Tested in Tunnel
1927 NACA Cowling No. 10 taken from Air Scoop	1928-10-12 Cowling Chart	1928 Hanger Fabrication and PRT Fuselage	1928 Balance System	1928 Mock Fuselage Study
1928 VE-7 on Stand	1928 Vought VE-7	1928 Drag Test on Dummy Fuselage	1928 NACA's First Collier Trophy Winners	1928-06-11 PRT Fuselage
View of Model Test	View of Model Test	1929 Fabricating Cowlings for Testing	1929 Fairchild FC2-W2	1930 Tom Carroll, Ruth Elder, H.J.E. Reid, Dr. Ed Sharp
1930 Balance Setup	1931 Test Chamber Walls	1935 USS Akron Airship	1936 Fred E. Weick, Head of PRT Section 1925 - 1929	1936 PRT behind the 8-Ft Tunnel
1939 Marvin Forrest Looking at Test Setup, taken from Air Scoop	WWII: PRT with camouflage paint	Description and Photos	1948-08-20 Air Scoop, Aerial View of the Old Propeller Research Tunnel	Diagram of 11-Inch Hypersonic Tunnel
11-Inch Hypersonic Tunnel	11-Inch Hypersonic Tunnel	11-Inch Hypersonic Tunnel Low-Pressure Tank	11-Inch Hypersonic Tunnel High-Pressure Tank	11-Inch Hypersonic Tunnel High-Pressure Tank
11-Inch Hypersonic Tunnel	1950-06-02 Air Scoop, Dismantling of Propeller Research Tunnel	1953-07-03 Air Scoop, Engine Room in PRT

[top] Tests

The Bell XP-77 was tested in the Propeller Research Tunnel in spring 1943, a few months prior to being tested at the Full Scale Tunnel. See Test 146 and Test 150 for the later tests.