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Flight research has been an integral and essential part of the mission of, first, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and later NASA. "NACA's second laboratory" until the early 1950s, that was how most people in the aircraft industry knew the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. As World War II loomed, NACA built Ames on the west cost to expand the nation's aeronautical capabilities. Immediately after, Ames staff were put to work solving operational problems of aircraft in World War II.
After the war, Ames was instrumental in the development of many of the technologies that are commonplace in aerospace industry. Ames' unique combination of wind tunnels, simulators and in-flight testing and the expertise in aeronautics developed during the war established Ames as a premier center in the world's aeronautical research establishment.
Among the early accomplishment were transonic model testing, variable stability aircraft, guidance and control displays, in-flight thrust reversing and steep approach research, short takeoff and landing (STOL) and vertical and short takeoff and landing research and rotor powered aircraft.
Upon the transition to from NACA to NASA, in the 1958, the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory was renamed NASA Ames Research Center. The center used the capabilities and culture developed during the NACA year to expand into the cutting edge field of aerospace. Using its aeronautical expertise and testing facilities, NASA Ames once again helped develop technologies instrumental NASA's efforts to land a Man on the moon, the development of the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station and the next generation of space vehicles.
Recently, NASA Ames is combining its expertise in aerospace and computer hardware and software development to tackle the problem of safe and efficient air travel. NASA Ames continues to be a leader in the development of aerospace technology.