Boeing PW-9, NASA history collection
This Boeing PW-9 was built with strong tail surfaces and fuselage for the systematic investigation of pressure distribution. Although the PW-9 designation would seem to mark a military aircraft, the NACA Boeing... More
1946, NASA history collection, NASA history collection
Boeing B-29 long range bomber model was tested for ditching characteristics in the Langley tank no. 2 early in 1946. Photograph published in Sixty Years of Aeronautical Research 1917-1977 By David A. Anderton. ... More
M2-F1 on lakebed with pilots Milt Thompson, Chuck Yeager, Don Mallick,...
After the initial M2-F1 airtow flights, the NASA Flight Research Center used the vehicle to check out other pilots. Bruce Peterson was scheduled to take over as the M2-F1 project pilot from Milt Thompson, while... More
Pilotless Aircraft Research Division, NASA history collection
Sperry Model 10 Velocimeter, Doppler radar at Wallops Island with trackers P.R. Mears and J. Quillen. Metallic ears pointed to the heavens, this radio tracking device kept tabs on Wallops rocket firings. Joseph... More
Full-Scale Tunnel (FST) model. Public domain image of NASA aircraft.
Model of Full-Scale Tunnel (FST) under construction. On June 26, 1929, Elton W. Miller wrote to George W. Lewis proposing the construction of a model of the full-scale tunnel . "The excellent energy ratio obtai... More
Full-Scale Tunnel (FST) model. NASA public domain image colelction.
Interior view of Full-Scale Tunnel (FST) model. On June 26, 1929, Elton W. Miller wrote to George W. Lewis proposing the construction of a model of the full-scale tunnel. "The excellent energy ratio obtained in... More
Full-Scale Tunnel (FST) model. NASA public domain image colelction.
Interior view of Full-Scale Tunnel (FST) model. On June 26, 1929, Elton W. Miller wrote to George W. Lewis proposing the construction of a model of the full-scale tunnel. "The excellent energy ratio obtained in... More
Full Scale Tunnel (FST), NASA history collection
Installation of Full Scale Tunnel (FST) power plant. Virginia Public Service Company could not supply adequate electricity to run the wind tunnels being built at Langley. (The Propeller Research Tunnel was powe... More
Variable Density Tunnel, Being Used by NASA Staff
In 1922, at NASA Langley Research Center, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautic (NACA), completed the Variable Density Tunnel (VDT), the world's first wind tunnel in which air pressures could be varied... More
Two-Dimensional Low-Turbulence Tunnel
Construction of the wood frame for the Two-Dimensional Low-Turbulence Tunnel. The Two-Dimensional Low-Turbulence Tunnel was originally called the Refrigeration or "Ice" tunnel because it was intended to support... More
Model of Full-Scale Tunnel (FST) under construction
Model of Full-Scale Tunnel (FST) under construction. On June 26, 1929, Elton W. Miller wrote to George W. Lewis proposing the construction of a model of the full-scale tunnel. "The excellent energy ratio obtain... More
5-Foot Vertical Wind Tunnel. Public domain image of NASA aircraft.
Construction of 5-Foot Vertical Wind Tunnel. The 5-Foot Vertical Wind Tunnel was built to study spinning characteristics of aircraft. It was an open throat tunnel capable of a maximum speed of 80 mph. NACA engi... More
Lifting body pilots - Jerry Gentry, John Manke, Bill Dana, Cecil Powel...
Posing for this photo in front of the M2-F3 are (Left-Right) Air Force pilot Captain Jerauld Gentry, NASA pilots John Manke and William H. Dana. Kneeling is Air Force pilot Major Cecil Powell. These four pilots... More
Full-Scale Tunnel (FST), NASA history collection
Modified propeller and spinner in Full-Scale Tunnel (FST) model. On June 26, 1929, Elton W. Miller wrote to George W. Lewis proposing the construction of a model of the full-scale tunnel. "The excellent energy ... More
Full Scale Tunnel (FST), NASA history collection
Installation of Full Scale Tunnel (FST) power plant. Virginia Public Service Company could not supply adequate electricity to run the wind tunnels being built at Langley. (The Propeller Research Tunnel was powe... More
Aircraft Engineering Conference 1934 - Full Scale Tunnel
Gathered together in the only facility big enough to hold them, attendees at Langleys 1934 aircraft Engineering Conference pose in the Full Scale Wind Tunnel underneath a Boeing P-26A Peashooter. Present, among... More
X-5 Multiple Exposure Photo Showing Wing Sweep
This NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station photograph of the X-5 was taken at the South Base of Edwards Air Force Base. The photograph, a multiple exposure, illustrates the X-5's variably swept wing capabilit... More
X-5 Multiple Exposure Photo Showing Wing Sweep
This NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station photograph of the X-5 was taken at the South Base of Edwards Air Force Base. The photograph, a multiple exposure, illustrates the X-5's variably swept wing capabilit... More
Radial Engines: Pratt & Whitney, NASA history collection
Radial Engines: Pratt & Whitney: In the spring of 1939 Langley's Power Plants Division tested a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine to determine the amount of thrust that could be obtained by projecting the wa... More
12-Foot Free-Flight Tunnel 12 foot Free Flight Tunnel
Testing a 1/12th scale model of SBN-1 in the 12-Foot Free-Flight Tunnel: The 12-foot free-flight wind tunnel was constructed in 1939 to assist researchers studying the problems of stability and control. The des... More
Full-Scale Tunnel (FST) model. Public domain image of NASA aircraft.
Model of Full-Scale Tunnel (FST) under construction. On June 26, 1929, Elton W. Miller wrote to George W. Lewis proposing the construction of a model of the full-scale tunnel . "The excellent energy ratio obtai... More
Boeing B-29, NASA history collection
Boeing B-29 long range bomber model was tested for ditching characteristics in the Langley tank no. 2 early in 1946. Photograph published in Sixty Years of Aeronautical Research 1917-1977 By David A. Anderton. ... More
Human Computers 1947, NASA history collection
Langley's human computers at work in 1947. The female presence at Langley, who performed mathematical computations for male staff. Photograph published in Winds of Change, 75th Anniversary NASA publication (pag... More
XN2Y-1 in the 15-Foot Spin Tunnel
Model of the XN2Y-1 for testing in 15-Foot Spin Tunnel. This was one of two balsa wood models (the other was a 1/12-scale model of the F4B-2) for initial testing and calibration of the new tunnel. Researchers w... More
X-2 in flight after drop from B-50 mothership
The Bell Aircraft Company X-2 (46-674) drops away from its Boeing B-50 mothership in this photo. Lt. Col. Frank "Pete" Everest piloted 674 on its first unpowered flight on 5 August 1954. He made the first rocke... More
Brewster Buffalo in Full Scale Wind Tunnel
Langley's drag-cleanup studies of the Brewster Buffalo experimental fighter in 1938 were so productive that the U.S. Army and Navy sent most of their World War II prototype and production aircraft to the Labora... More
Model of Full-Scale Tunnel (FST) under construction
Model of Full-Scale Tunnel (FST) under construction. On June 26, 1929, Elton W. Miller wrote to George W. Lewis proposing the construction of a model of the full-scale tunnel. "The excellent energy ratio obtain... More
Vought SU-2 Corsair, NASA history collection
Vought SU-2 Corsair: The Vought SU-2 Corsair was originally designated the O3U-4, but was reassigned to the scout category of naval aircraft. This SU-2 was tested in Langley's 30 x 60 Full Scale Tunnel in 1934.... More
M2-F1 on lakebed with pilots Milt Thompson, Chuck Yeager, Don Mallick,...
After the initial M2-F1 airtow flights, the NASA Flight Research Center used the vehicle to check out other pilots. Bruce Peterson was scheduled to take over as the M2-F1 project pilot from Milt Thompson, while... More
Dryden F-8 Research Aircraft Fleet 1973 in flight, DFBW and SCW
F-8 Digital Fly-By-Wire (left) and F-8 Supercritical Wing in flight. These two aircraft fundamentally changed the nature of aircraft design. The F-8 DFBW pioneered digital flight controls and led to such comput... More
X-2 in flight after drop from B-50 mothership
The Bell Aircraft Company X-2 (46-674) drops away from its Boeing B-50 mothership in this photo. Lt. Col. Frank "Pete" Everest piloted 674 on its first unpowered flight on 5 August 1954. He made the first rocke... More
5-Foot Vertical Wind Tunnel. Public domain image of NASA aircraft.
Construction of 5-Foot Vertical Wind Tunnel. The 5-Foot Vertical Wind Tunnel was built to study spinning characteristics of aircraft. It was an open throat tunnel capable of a maximum speed of 80 mph. NACA engi... More
8-Foot High Speed Tunnel (HST. Public domain image of NASA aircraft.
Interior view of the slotted throat test section installed in the 8-Foot High Speed Tunnel (HST) in 1950. The slotted region is about 160 inches in length. In this photograph, the sting-type model support is se... More