NACA: SOLVING DECADES OF AVIATION CHALLENGES 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 Max Munk arrives from Leigh M. Griffith becomes George Lewis’ title changes to NACA provides inputs to the Henry J.E. Reid becomes Theodore Theodorsen and NACA Cowling Wind Tunnel By the end of WWII, the 23012 March 3, 1936 Joseph Ames resigns from After Congressional approval Aircraft Engine Research 1916-1917: The NACA called the first joint meeting of January 1918 February 19, 1919 January 29, 1920 October 14, 1947 March 10, 1948 March 4, 1952 September 27, 1956 March 3, 1915 Germany, joins NACA. Munk Langley’s first “Engineer in Director of Research. Morrow Board, which leads to Langley’s Engineer in Charge, W.C. Clay begin research on research began. This research 1929–1934: Langley develops more than 100 new wing sections. Wing Section published by The NACA Committee on Fa- NACA after suffering a stroke in August, in September the 1940–1944: NACA’s drag cleanup work improves the performance of more than 100 different models of WWII U.S. Laboratory work begins on jet X-Plane Test Flights September 25, 1950 August 23, 1954 the aircraft industry and Government agencies. This con- The NACA established Office The NACA recommendations Orville Wright appointed to U.S. Air Force pilot Chuck Yea- Herb Hoover becomes the first Joe Walker was first to fly Air Force Capt. Milburn G. A rider to the Naval proposes development of the Charge.” the Air Commerce Act. continuing as director until his aircraft anti-icing. led to a series of component the NACA would be the most cilities is appointed. This group in 1936. decision is made to build the aircraft. One example: after tests and modifications, the P-40 Warhawk’s top speed increases from 330 mph to 360 mph. engines, pioneering the field 1946-1958: NACA John Griffith was the first NACA Joe Walker made first of 20 of Aeronautical Intelligence at on regulating air commerce, NACA by President Wilson. ger becomes the first person to NACA pilot and first civilian to variable sweep wing X-5 to Apt flew the X-2 to Mach 3.2. Appropriations Act established ference was instrumental in the creation of the Manufac- Variable Density and Propeller retirement in 1960. drag studies that resulted in May 15, 1930 May 4, 1933 widely used wing section in would eventually recommend NACA Moffett Field Aeronauti- of axial flow compressors. research contributes pilot to fly the X-4 aircraft NACA research flights in the the suggestion of the Aircraft the licensing of pilots, the break the sound barrier, flying fly supersonically in the X-1. full 60-degree angle. Concept Unfortunately, he subsequently the National Advisory Com- turers Aircraft Association and in the recommendation for Research Tunnels, and devises Langley staff increases to aircraft drag reduction, which Langley staff now numbers Langley hosts the 8th Annual the world. the creation of two new NACA cal Laboratory in California. studying flying qualities of tail- X-3 “Flying Stiletto” supersonic Board to collect and distribute inspection of aircraft, and The Propulsion Lab proposal January 23, 1941 significantly to important the Bell X-1, a research aircraft used today on F-14, F-111, lost control of the airplane mittee for Aeronautics (NACA). the formation of the Aircraft Production Board for WWI mathematical tools for wing 1924-1960s more than 100. increased aircraft speeds and more than 200. Aircraft Engineering Research laboratories. less vehicles. program. scientific and technical data on the use of landing fields were is approved in June; the facil- NACA Aircraft Engine Labora- experimental X-series air- co-sponsored by the Air Force The Committee was instituted design. Compressibility research, range. Conference. R.T. Jones develops his swept and B-1 aircraft. and it crashed, killing him and aircraft production. aeronautics. transmitted to Congress ity will be located at the NACA tory in Cleveland, Ohio, later craft designs of the 1950s. to “supervise and direct the the study of air’s behavior as wing theory. and the NACA. destroying the vehicle. through the Secretary of the Aircraft Engine Research named Lewis Research Center, scientific study of the prob- a high-speed compressible June 22, 1927 Langley staff exceeds 400. Treasury. fluid began in the 1920s and Laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio. currently NASA Glenn Research Walt Williams, then the NACA’s George Lewis steps down as National Unitary Wind Tunnel 1950-1960 A development contract for The International Council of Julian Allen blunt body find- NACA Director Hugh Dryden January 31, 1958 lems of flight, with a view to During 1917 May 1918 The Propeller Research Tunnel Two-Dimensional Low Pres- enabled researchers to solve 1936-1945 Center, was founded. X-1 Project Engineer, is named NACA Director of Research for Act of 1949 enabled NACA to Engineers at the Lewis labora- the Atlas missile is awarded Scientific Unions proposes an ings (allowing for safe reentry convenes the Research Explorer 1 became the first their practical solution.” The U.S. Weather Bureau aerologi- At instigation of Dr. W. F. Du- (PRT) is completed. Its 20-foot- sure Turbulence Tunnel control problems later experi- Thermal Ice Prevention Sys- Chief of the Muroc Flight Test health reasons and is replaced erect supersonic tunnels at each tory pursued development to Convair. NACA research International Geophysical Year of objects from space) is pub- Airplane Committee and per- satellite launched by the sum of $5,000 a year was cal specialist, William R. Blair, rand, Chairman of the NACA, Joseph Ames appointed a mem- April 1922 diameter test section is the construction begins; research Between 1954 and 1957, enced by WWII airplanes. tems at NACA were created to Unit, a position he holds until by Hugh L. Dryden. of its three research centers, of an axial flow compressor on materials, blunt body for 1957-58, including a call lished as a classified Research suades Air Force and Navy to The Pilotless Aircraft Research United States. appropriated for five years. The June 8, 1916 prepared NACA Report No. 13, General Electric assembled an ber of the main Committee. By Physicist Pearl I. Young hired largest wind tunnel ever built in this tunnel leads to five new space- and rocket-related investigate effective counter- 1959. with priority utilization reserved for jet engines that improved concepts and mechanics of for satellite launches. Memorandum. fund a hypersonic research Division launches the first total appropriation for naval The NACA called the first “Meteorology and Aeronau- experimental turbo super- 1927, Ames becomes longest- by NACA and becomes archi- at that point, and four times families of low-drag wings by April 18, 1940 A second Tow Tank is added research at NACA grows from Construction began on 30x60 measures to the problems of for industry testing. The new fa- efficiency by an order of mag- ballistic re-entry prove critical X-vehicle project that five-stage solid-fuel rocket that aeronautics was $1 million. meeting of representatives of tics,” which was widely circu- charger on a Liberty engine at serving Committee chair. tect of the NACA Technical the size of the largest wind 1939. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory at Langley. 10% to 25% of all research. full-scale wind tunnel. This ice formation on aircraft. cilities proved their worth almost nitude. This research became to U.S. missile programs. becomes the X-15. achieves a speed of Mach 15. the aircraft industry and of in- lated as a basic handbook. Dayton. Reports system. tunnel then at Langley. Bob Gilruth is hired at Langley, in Moffett Field, California (later wind tunnel allowed testing immediately with the discovery the basis of the modern high terested Government agencies. and later heads the Space renamed NASA Ames Research The 9-Inch Supersonic Tunnel – NACA publishes “Aerodynam- NACA engineers begin invent- of actual aircraft, including Summer 1930 of the “Area Rule.” bypass jet turbofan. Center), was formed. ic Problems of Guided Mis- April 2, 1915 ing new instruments that au- manufacturing details that led Langley’s 7- by 10-Foot Task Group, eventually becom- the first continuous-flow super- June 11, 1920 Smith DeFrance moves from sonic tunnel – begins operation siles,” the Committee’s first August 27, 1956 President Wilson appointed the NACA research airplane group tomate the collection of flight to important “drag cleanup” Atmospheric Wind Tunnel ing director of the Johnson March 26, 1957 Langley Memorial Aeronautical Langley to become the Moffett technical report on rocketry. The Langley Memorial Aero- first 12 members of the NACA. includes four aircraft: a Vought and wind tunnel test data, improvements. (AWT) begins operations. Proving critical to NACA Space Center. at Langley. NACA research pilot Joe July 17, 1917 Laboratory is dedicated. Field director. nautical Laboratory name is The NACA Aerodynamics NACA’s Pilotless Aircraft Re- High-Speed Flight Station Throughout the entire history VE-7 and 3 Curtis JN-4 H Jen- like this one used to measure Research performed in the stability and control work, After tremendous growth dur- Walker made first NACA flight Langley Memorial Aeronautical Two seminal papers on aero- Two 16-Foot Tunnels are com- May 8, 1942 shortened to Langley Aero- Committee urges an increase search Division launches the research pilot Neil Armstrong of the NACA until October nies. aircraft stability. Hydrodynamics research on AWT produced an important the world’s first facility of its ing WWII, NACA staff exceeds Richard Whitcomb begins to in an F-104A aircraft (the num- Laboratory, the site for NACA’s Outgoing President Hoover elastic flutter are published.