1. The Wright Brothers, Wind Tunnels and NASA A Centennial of Flight Story 1903 - 2003

2. The Wright Brothers Orville and Wilbur Dayton, Ohio Wright Cycle Company Brain synchronicity Systematic in their experimental approach

3. The Wright Brothers Read the research Talked with colleagues Determined problems to be solved Delineated a process for solving problems safely

4. The Wright Brothers Problems to be solved –Balance during flight: a way to safely control the airplane’s motion –An engine to move it through the air –Wings needed to lift an airplane into the air

5. The Wright Brothers Problem –Balance during flight: a way to safely control the airplane’s motion

6. The Wright Brothers Balance Solutions –Horizontal rudder –Wingwarping –Hip cradle

7. The Wright Brothers Problem –An engine to move it through the air Lightweight Minimal vibration Powerful enough to turn the propellers

8. The Wright Brothers Engine Solutions –Small, powerful, gas engine –Powered 2 propellers

9. The Wright Brothers Problem –Wings needed to lift airplane into the air Determine the length- to-width ratio Proper amount of camber Most efficient angle of attack The center of pressure

10. The Wright Brothers Wing Solutions –Throw out previous tables and theories –Devise a better method of testing wings –Use new test results to design a better wing

11. Wind Tunnels Whirling Arm Machines –Used in earlier airfoil research –Generated its own turbulence, thus inaccurate data –Could not accurately measure the small forces exerted on a model at high speeds

12. Wind Tunnels A simple device –Enclosed passage through which air is driven

13. Wind Tunnels Basic operation –Drive system = a fan and motor –Controlled airstream –Test section = enclosed passage –Test instrumentation for data collection

14. Wind Tunnels “Tunnel” Vision –Overall better design than whirling arm because it is a self-contained system –Allowed for controlled, systematic testing –Made data gathering easy and reliable –Became the standard method for airflow tests

15. Wind Tunnels The Wright Brothers’ Model –Wooden box –Window –Fan –Test section

16. Wind Tunnels The Wright Brothers’ Results –A set of highly accurate tables that predicted in advance the performance of an aircraft’s wings –Changes in their aircraft design Biggest glider yet Longer wings Narrower wings Tail section

17. Wind Tunnels American Wind Tunnel Pioneer –After the Wright Brothers –Hugo Mattullath $$ –Albert Zahm, researcher –Catholic University, Washington, D.C. –Closed 1908

18. Wind Tunnels European Researchers –Riabouchinsky –Eiffel –Prandtl –National Physical Laboratory (England)

19. Wind Tunnels America picks up the pace (circa WWI) –Zahm (again), Navy –Durand, Stanford Univ. –Hugh Dryden, National Bureau of Standards –National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics

20. Wind Tunnels NACA National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Committee member: Orville Wright First facility, Langley

21. Wind Tunnels NACA grows Wind tunnel complex built at Langley Tunnels get larger Airspeeds get faster Testing becomes more specialized

22. Wind Tunnels Basic Parts of a Modern Wind Tunnel –Settling Chamber –Contraction cone –Test section –Diffuser –Drive section

23. Wind Tunnels Types –Open-loop –Closed-loop –Subsonic –Transonic –Supersonic –Hypersonic –Refrigerated –Full-sized –Scale-sized

24. NASA NACA evolves into NASA

25. NASA Langley Research Center Tests conducted include airfoils, vertical takeoff, spinning/tumbling situations and the effects of wind gusts on aircraft Thirty tunnel systems –Aerothermodynamic –Subsonic –Transonic –Supersonic –Hypersonic

26. NASA Ames Research Center Tests conducted on a wide variety of aircraft, spacecraft and other vehicles, as well as structures Three tunnel systems –National Full Scale Aerodynamic Facility (40x80x120) –12 ft. Pressure Wind Tunnel –Unitary Tunnels

27. NASA Glenn Research Center Five tunnel systems –Supersonic –Transonic –Low speed tunnel –Icing tunnel Tests conducted include nozzles, rocket applications, jet engines and aircraft icing conditions

28. NASA One hundred years of aviation...