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National Aeronautics amd 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) Preface On October 14, 2009, over 300 employees and friends of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Full-Scale Tunnel gathered at the H.J.E. Reid Conference Center of the Langley Research Center to reflect on the tunnel’s history and celebrate its contributions to the aerospace heritage of the Nation. After 78 years of research activities, the wind tunnel had completed its last test on September 4 and was scheduled to be dis- mantled and demolished. On this beautiful fall afternoon, a multimedia presentation on the history and contributions of the facility was enjoyed by all, guided tours of the tunnel were held for attendees and former staff members, and old friends relived careers and memories. To those unfamiliar with this fabled structure, the first visit to its massive test section left them in awe and deeply impressed. Standing in the facility’s open test section, the crowd was treated to onsite briefings on the high-priority projects and famous people who had used its testing capabilities. Combining its gigantic size and workman-like atmosphere, the facility truly earned its legendary status. Those in attendance who had participated in the tunnel’s historic test programs experienced deep feelings of pride and dedication for the countless achievements that advanced the state of the art for civil and military aircraft. The afternoon’s events and camaraderie provided an emotional reflection on a national treasure that will live forever in the lore of aerospace history. The Full-Scale Tunnel was constructed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) during an era when biplanes and dirigibles dominated aviation. The huge, cathedral-like facility was the largest wind tunnel in the world when it began opera- tions in 1931. When the press and public first viewed the unprecedented facility, they were highly impressed by its gigantic dimensions. Writers for magazines such as Popular Science and newspapers such as the New York Times referred to the tunnel as the “Cave of the Winds” from its first operations through the end of World War II. George Gray’s 1947 book about the accomplishments of the NACA during the war, Frontiers of Flight, also discussed the “old cave of the winds” at Langley.1 Even Abe Silverstein, who helped design the tunnel and later became head of its operations, used the name in day-to-day discussions.2 By providing the capability to test full-scale aircraft within the carefully controlled and instrumented conditions of a wind tunnel, the Full-Scale Tunnel produced invaluable data for aircraft designers while conveying a message to the international scientific community and the media that the NACA was a world-class research institution. The unique design of the tunnel included the first semi-elliptical open-throat test section with twin propellers for airspeed control and a floating-frame aircraft-support mechanism mounted on dial-type scales for measurements of aerodynamic data. The legendary contributions of the Full-Scale Tunnel and its staff to the