By J. Lawrence Lee with Robert S. Arrighi

This volume is the most comprehensive account of the wind tunnels designed and operated by NASA and its predecessor organization, the NACA, for more than a century. Wind tunnel designs and techniques evolved over those years, resulting in a diverse range of capabilities, from hypersonic facilities with test sections of mere inches in diameter to the massive 80- by 120-foot section at the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex. These unique facilities have been an essential tool for aeronautical research and have contributed to the development of iconic U.S. aircraft and rockets.

Prior to the publication of this volume, there was no comprehensive anthology of NACA and NASA wind tunnels. Wind Tunnels of the NACA and NASA answers this need. In this encyclopedic reference work, each facility has its own listing that describes its history and its significance alongside detailed physical and operational descriptions and supporting archival imagery. This publication serves as a technical reference book for engineers, a documentary account for historians, and a compre­hensive history for the general public. Additionally, it supports the agency’s obligations under the National Historic Preservation Act to docu­ment its former historic facilities. In many cases, this publication is the only readily available account of the facility.

NASA SP-2025-4320