Langley Wind Tunnel to be Torn Down

[Holedigger]

The wind tunnel at Langley, which has been in operation since the 1930's and tested generations of full scale aircraft for the US, is being torn down. It is seen as obsolete and of no further scientific use! Some bits and parts of it are slated to be donated to museums and they will leave a memorial plaque at it's location.

Saw some great pics of Lightnings, Wildcats and other classic forms getting blown on. Any museums want bits.....get in line, but probably too late for any good bits!

[APG85]

Unbelievable. Let me guess, it's to expensive to maintain...

[Holedigger]

They didn't quite come out and say that, but between the lines.....
It was stated it had served well, but was outdated and had no relevant usage today. They probably need the space for a parking lot and just didn't want to say that!

[RyanShort1]

Well, truth be told, it probably isn't as useful anymore as it used to be. I just hope they keep the plans and drawings so it could be rebuilt if necessary. If all the fancy computers and modeling devices failed, there might still be a use for the legacy technology.

Ryan

[Holedigger]

Well, it is being run by NASA and with their budget cutting and priorities, THEY were not using it much, heaven forbid they actually make money with it by letting other companies come in and test, it is, er, was one of the few full size tunnels in the world. Others did occasionally use it, automotive, racing groups, aircraft designers and such.

[rreis]

Well, may I point you to reading this

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4305/contents.htm

from which I extract this wonderful quote:

The symbiosis between engineer and wind tunnel would grow so strong over the years that it was often almost impossible for management to put a machine out of business. The closing of some tunnels that had reached the point of diminishing returns- like the Propeller Research Tunnel in the 1940s- was accomplished only by overpowering stubborn defenders. Sometimes even after equipment was formally abandoned, old operators tried surreptitiously to run tests with it. Demolition proved the only sure way to end a tunnel's life.

[RMAllnutt]

From what I have been told by someone involved, it is the last full-size wind tunnel left in the USA. It was being operated by ODU University, who were doing very well with it, testing all sorts of commercial items in there. NASA was supposed to maintain the building, but has not, and let it fall into disrepair, and now don't want to work on the building. I know you can't keep everything, but I would think having at least one full-size wind tunnel in operation was a must.... not everything can be simulated economically in a computer. It's a crying shame!

Richard

[JDK]

Looks like you can do something about it (rather than just posting here).

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/La ... MP=OTC-RSS

...The deadline, originally set for late August, has been pushed back to Sept. 30. Ken Hyde, president of The Wright Experience, is asking supporters to write letters to their representatives in Congress to try to boost support for keeping the Langley tunnel up and running. He created a new Web site where information can be found and where updates will be posted.
...
NASA leases the tunnel to Old Dominion University. Hyde said ODU has six months' worth of paying customers in line who are ready to pay $1,600 per hour to conduct experiments in the tunnel. "Not all wind tunnels are alike, LFST delivers good data," said Hyde.
...

Ken Hyde's website: http://savethewindtunnel.blogspot.com/

[JDK]

From what I have been told by someone involved, it is the last full-size wind tunnel left in the USA.

Not sure that's correct. From a quick glance across the NASA site, the AMES tunnel is also full size.

The largest wind tunnel in the world is at NASA's Ames Research Center. This subsonic tunnel, which can test planes with wing spans of up to 100 feet, is over 1,400 feet long and 180 feet high. It has two test sections: one 80 feet high and 120 feet wide, the other 40 feet high and 80 feet wide. Air is driven through these test sections by six 15-bladed fans. Each fan has a diameter equal to the height of a four-story building. The fans are powered by six 22,500-horsepower motors.

http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/WindTunnel.html

[APG85]

Good Foxnews video about the tunnel...

http://aimpoints.hq.af.mil/display.cfm?id=35408

[rreis]

Air & Space article on the tunnel:

http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-f ... c=y&page=1

[hang the expense]

Lets see,the money tax payers that was going to accorn and all the czars could easily fund the wind tunnel for oh say another 2 million years easily.It really is a shame that a piece of history as significant as this just gets canned.

[rreis]

There's an initiative to save the tunnel:

http://savethewindtunnel.blogspot.com/

[Second Air Force]

It really is a shame that a piece of history as significant as this just gets canned.

I agree, and I hope that this can be saved. My experience with the WWII hangars and buildings in the Midwest tells me the wreckers will end up winning, but it is worth a try to petition for saving the wind tunnel.

[JDK]

It is a pity time is up for the tunnel, but some issues seem quite clear while others I suspect are tough:

- It's not core to NASA's needs - and they are under critical cost-justification at the moment.

- It's already had a stay of execution during Old Dominion University's use.

- Interestingly while it's heritage listed, it appears not to be protected. One could wonder what's the point?

- It's not possible to make a tourism attraction out of it due to location and that location's security requirements.

- It's not the only or largest 'full size' wind tunnel.

I'm guessing that the crunch is not the upkeep costs but the major costs I suspect required to refurbish it to keep it sound. It's all very well working in worn out buildings, but there comes a time when the cost for repair skyrockets; and if you don't need it, it's impossible to justify spending so much on it.

Just how I read it.