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A scale model of an airplane with long and skinny wings supported by a truss is suspended within a wind tunnel for testing. The four walls of the wind tunnel are silver with a blue light illuminating the background.

A technician works on the X-59 model during testing in the low-speed wind tunnel, in February of 2022.

Bell 609 spinner inlet icing model. Technicians taking measurement of ice accretions after an icing test.

Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities Portfolio Office

The Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities (AETC) portfolio office executes strategic efforts to preserve and enhance research and test capabilities for NASA’s world-class portfolio of National Wind Tunnel facilities.

Learn More About the AETC Portfolio Office

director

Dr. Ron Colantonio

deputy director

Chris Mouring

Associate portfolio director

Steve Helland

ASSOCIATE portfolio director for digital transformation

Lori Arnett

Latest News about AETC

NASA Aeronautics Highlights for 2023

14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel Data Acquisition

14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel Quick Facts

14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel Characteristics

Eyes on Ice

AETC Featured Video

AETC Videos Playlist

To view the Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities (AETC) Videos Playlist click on the top right corner with the menu icon to see the full listing.

Watch More AETC Videos on YouTube

Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities Leadership

Learn more about the leadership for the Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities portfolio office.

More Aeronautics Leadership

Ron Colantonio, Director, Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities (AETC) Portfolio Office

Dr. Ron Colantonio

Director

Read Dr. Ron Colantonio's Bio

Chris Mouring

Deputy Director

Read Chris Mouring's Bio

Spring 2025

Flight Dynamics Research Facility (FDFR)

NASA's newest wind tunnel coming Spring 2025.

The Flight Dynamics Research Facility (FDRF) will soon be NASA’s newest wind tunnel. Currently under construction and slated for completion in late 2024, the FDRF will be a highly versatile and cost effective vertical wind tunnel for conducting free flight and captive testing on all manner of atmospheric flight vehicles. This new facility will replace the existing 20 Ft. Vertical Spin Tunnel and the 12 Ft Low Speed Tunnel and consolidate their test capabilities into a new, state-of-the-art wind tunnel with significantly greater performance.

Read the FDFR Fact Sheet

An artists rendering of the Flight Dynamics Research Facility. The facility houses a unique test section that will combine the capability of two older wind tunnels.

An artists rendering of the Flight Dynamics Research Facility. The facility houses a unique test section that will combine the capability of two older wind tunnels.

Subsonic Facilities

Explore NASA's Subsonic Facilities.

Alternative Low Noise Fan setup in the 9'x15' Low-Speed Wind Tunnel at NASA Glenn.

9- by 15-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel

Fluorescent oil on a model of a futuristic hybrid wing body during tests in the14 by-22-Foot Subsonic Wind Tunnel.

14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel

Sam Lee uses 3D laser scanner to measure the ice shape.

Icing Research Tunnel

20 Foot Vertical Spin Tunnel with General Aviation Model

20-Foot Vertical Spin Tunnel

Transonic Facilities

Explore NASA's Transonic Facilities.

NASA Pathfinder II model mounted on the Free To Roll rig at the NTF.

National Transonic Facility

11-Foot Transonic Unitary Plan Facility

Half of a yellow model of a semi-span fighter model being tested in the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel.

Transonic Dynamics Tunnel

Supersonic Facilities

Explore NASA's Supersonic Facilities.

2D Inlet coldpipe test at 10X10 foot supersonic wind tunnel.

10 – by 10-foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel

Pictured here is a three percent space shuttle model testing for return to flight in the Ames 9x7 wind tunnel.

9- by 7-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel

X-59 model inside the 8x6 supersonic wind tunnel.

8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel

A supersonic vehicle model inside the 4-Foot wind tunnel.

4-Foot Supersonic Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel

Hypersonic Facilities

Explore NASA's Hypersonic Facilities.

A female technician inspecting the model of the Hyper X mounted on a Pegasus booster rocket.

Langley Aerothermodynamics Laboratory (LAL) Facility

Hypersonic model test in the 8-Foot High Temperature Tunnel at NASA Langley.

8-Foot High-Temperature Tunnel

Propulsion Facilities

Explore NASA's Propulsion Facility.

John Wargo, lead technician at NASA Glenn's Propulsion System Laboratory (PSL) is performing an inspection.

Propulsion Systems Laboratory

Test Technology

Explore NASA's Subsonic Facilities.

Open-rotor Propulsion Rig, painted with Pressure-Sensitive Paint (PSP) and ready for testing.

Pressure Measurement

Infrared camera image of an airfoil equipped with an anti-icing system.

Temperature Measurement

Angle of Attack instrumentation.

Angle Measurement

Jet Exit Rig Balance

Force Measurement

Schlieren image of the Large-Scale Low-Boom (LSLB)

Flow Measurement

The Facility Aerodynamics Validation and Operational Research (FAVOR) model.

Process Improvement

Wind Tunnel Testing Guide

Our extensive aerospace expertise and unique ground testing capabilities will prove invaluable to your enterprise.

We have the most comprehensive ground testing capabilities in the world, and we want to share with you the benefits of our decades of accomplishments. We offer what others can’t. Infrastructure. Know-how. Experience. And most importantly: Success.

View the Wind Tunnel Testing Guide Brochure

Pink-colored pressure sensitive paint is applied to a vehicle to test in a wind tunnel.

An aircraft design that could reduce fuel use, emissions and noise is set up for a test in a wind tunnel at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California in which pink-colored pressure-sensitive paint is applied to the vehicle. The pink paint shines when exposed to blue light, glowing brighter or dimmer depending on air pressure in the area.

Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities Gallery

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AETC Virtual Tours

Step into a virtual tour of the different facilities managed by the Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities portfolio office.

Take the Tour Here

Alternative Low Noise Fan setup in the 9'x15' Low-Speed Wind Tunnel at NASA Glenn.

Learn More and Get Involved

A graphic showing a front view of an airplane over a series of 0's and 1's suggesting digital aviation research,

Research Solicitations

Find opportunities to collaborate with NASA’s aeronautical innovators and/or contribute to their research to enable new and improved air transportation systems.

NASA Aeronautics Strategic Implementation Plan, shows an artist illustration of the earth with grass covering the land mass of North and South America as well as Europe. There are airplane silhouettes flying on top of the globe. Also, around the globe are the 6 Strategic Thrusts that support the ARMD portfolio.

ARMD Strategic Vision

Emerging trends, new entrants to the industry, and technological advances have prompted NASA’s aeronautical innovators to periodically reassess their research activities and goals.

NASA Aeronautics Research Institute

The NASA Aeronautics Research Institute promotes innovation in aeronautics across a broad spectrum of aeronautical challenges in the nation’s air transportation system.

Several people in business suits appear talking as they stand behind an office conference room table. On a nearby wall is a graphic with an airplane and the words NASA Advisory Council Aeronautics Committee.

NASA Advisory Council Aeronautics Committee

The Aeronautics Committee advises the NASA Administrator through the NASA Advisory Council on strategic plans, programs, policies and other matters pertinent to the Agency's responsibilities for aeronautics research and development.

A red and white graphic showing a simple house with a chimney and the words Aeronautics at Home.

Aeronautics STEM

Explore hands-on activities, interactive, lesson plans, educator guides, and other downloadable content about this topic.

Other Aeronautics topics

Even More Aeronautics

Artist illustration of the X-59 in flight over a surbuban neighborhood.

Supersonic Flight

Research about flying faster than the speed of sound.

Aerospace Cognitive Engineering Lab Rapid Automation Test Environment; (ACEL-RATE) in N262 showing out-the-window views of San Francisco for UAM UTM Ride Quality Simulation project.

Flight Innovation

Stories about pioneering the frontiers of 21st century flight.

The Moog SureFly aircraft hovers above Cincinnati Municipal Airport during an acoustic hover test.

Drones & You

All about new ways to get from here to there in the air.

In this image, captured using data from a wind-tunnel test, the red and orange areas represent higher drag, and the green and bl

Green Aviation Tech

Learn about research to make aviation more sustainable.

Airplane outside it's gate at the airport.

Air Traffic Solutions

Read about how NASA is opening up the sky for all.

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