National Aeronautics and Space Administration - NASA

556 Pages·2014·10.63 MB·English

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
.
The Remarkable History of the Langley Full-Scale Wind Tunnel
Joseph R. Chambers
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Chambers, Joseph R.
Cave of the Winds : the remarkable history of the Langley full-scale wind
tunnel / by Joseph R. Chambers.
pages cm
“NASA/SP--2014-614.”
Includes index.
1. Wind tunnels--History. 2. Langley Research Center--History. 3.
Aeronautics--Research--United States--History. 4.
Astronautics--Research--United States--History. I. Title.
TL567.W5C47 2014
629.134’52--dc23
2014006904
Copyright © 2014 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The opinions expressed in this volume are those of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect the official positions of the United States Government or
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
ISBN 978-1-62683-016-5
90000
9 781626 830165
ii
Table Of Contents
Preface .........................................................................................................ix
Acknowledgments .....................................................................................xvii
Chapter 1—The Awakening (1914–1928) ....................................................1
Self-Assessment
The Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory
The First NACA Wind Tunnels
Bigger and Better
Endnotes for Chapter 1
Chapter 2—Birth of a Legend (1929–1931) ...............................................11
Concepts and Go-Ahead
The Model Tunnel
The Final Design: Layout and Building
The Final Design: Drive System
The Final Design: Test Chamber
Construction Begins
The Dedication Ceremony
Ready for Business
Birthing Pains
Settling a Lawsuit: The First Test
Submarine Airplane: The Loening XSL-1
Beginning of a Core Expertise: Engine Cooling
Controversy Within Langley: The Wind Tunnel Wars
Up and Running
Endnotes for Chapter 2
iii
Cave of the Winds
Chapter 3—Mission Accomplished? (1932–1937) .....................................43
Establishing Credibility
Prewar Research Projects
Army Projects
Navy Projects
Requests by the Department of Commerce
Nature’s Wrath: The 1933 Hurricane
Annual Engineering Conferences
Facility Modifications
The First Langley Gust Tunnel
Changing of the Guard
End of the Line?
Endnotes for Chapter 3
Chapter 4—Serving the Greatest Generation (1938–1945) .......................87
Preparing for the Storm
Navy Domination and the Army Response
DeFrance Goes West
Dearborn Moves Up
Silverstein Moves North
New Tenants at Full-Scale
Metal to Wooden Propellers
Langley Field Camouflaged
Other Large Tunnels: Foreign and Domestic
The War Years: A Dependable Workhorse
End of an Era
Endnotes for Chapter 4
Chapter 5—Back to Basics (1946–1957) .................................................185
Redirection
New Leaders and Reorganization
Silver Anniversary
Facility Changes
Review of Test Activities
Versatility: Unconventional Tests
Military Requests
Quiet Airplane Project
Wall Effects in Supersonic Flow
Invasion of the Butterflies: Free-Flight Models
High-Angle-of-Attack Problems
The End of the NACA
Endnotes for Chapter 5
iv
Table of Contents
Chapter 6—Rebirth (1958–1968) .............................................................233
A New Agency
Shakeup at the Full-Scale Tunnel
Campbell’s Coup: Free-Flight Moves In
An Old Friend Retires
“Mac” Takes Over
Facility Modifications
Review of Test Activities
Fly Me to the Moon
Houston Has a Problem: The Lunar Landing Training Vehicle
Flying Bathtubs
V/STOL Takes Off
NASA’s Breakthrough: The Variable-Sweep Wing
The Need for Speed: Supersonic Civil Transports
Flexible Wing Concepts: Rogallo’s Dream
The Last Gasp: Helicopters and Other Rotorcraft
General Aviation Research
Summarizing the Sixties
Endnotes for Chapter 6
Chapter 7—Faster, Slower, More Maneuverable (1969–1984) ................299
Challenging Times
The Army Arrives
Onsite Contractors
One-Stop Services for the Nation
Threat from the West Coast
New Organizations, New Leaders
The Return of Abe
Modifications, Rehabs, and Upgrades
An Unwanted Name Change
Research Activities
Civil Concepts Turned Military
Increase in Military Support
Cutting Edge: The NASA High-Angle-of-Attack Technology Program
Vortex Flap: The Legend of the “F-53”
Rise of General Aviation Research
A Better Concept: Short Takeoff and Landing
Power Generators: Wind Turbines
Versatility and Value
Endnotes for Chapter 7
v
Cave of the Winds
Chapter 8—The Final NASA Programs (1985–1995) ...............................355
The Best of Times, the Worst of Times
Historical Recognition
Agency Issues
Organizational Changes
Facility Improvements
Research Activities
Air Force Super Fighter: The F-22
End of a Tradition: The F/A-18E/F
Supersonic Civil Transports Revisited
Hypersonic Vehicles
The Last NASA General Aviation Tests: Natural Laminar Flow Wings
Riding a Tornado: Wake-Vortex Encounter
Upheavals: International, Agency, Organizational, and Cultural
End of the Line: Decommissioning the Full-Scale Tunnel
The Curtain Falls
The Closing Ceremony
Aftermath
Gone but Not Forgotten
Endnotes for Chapter 8
Chapter 9—The ODU Era (1996–2009) .....................................................413
Rebirth of the Full-Scale Tunnel
Changing of the Guard
Staff and Management During the ODU Years
Hugging the Ground: Modifications to the Tunnel
Research Activities
Breath of Life: Motorsports
Priceless Education
Enduring Versatility: Nonaerospace Projects
Nature’s Apocalypse: Hurricane Isabel
Passed by the Competition: Other Tunnel Test Facilities
Mission Restored: Return of Aircraft Testing
Return of the Wright Spirit
Hollywood Arrives: The Box
The Centerpiece: The Blended Wing Body
End of the Line: Final Closure
Summary of the ODU Years
Endnotes for Chapter 9
vi
Table of Contents
Chapter 10—Demolition of the Cave of the Winds (2010–2011) .............455
The Task at Hand
Photographs of the Demolition Process
In the Presence of History
Endnotes for Chapter 10
Appendix—Personalities at the Full-Scale Tunnel ...................................467
About the Author ........................................................................................488
Index ..........................................................................................................489
vii
The huge Langley Full-Scale Tunnel building dominated the skyline of Langley Air Force Base for 81 years (1930–2011).
The results of critical tests conducted within its massive test section contributed to many of the Nation’s most important
aeronautics and space programs. (NASA L-79-7344)