Flight Dynamics Research Facility
The Flight Dynamics Research Facility (FDRF) is a 25,000-square-foot highly versatile wind tunnel. The FDRF plays a role in conducting research, development of autonomous flight vehicles, technology, drones, X-planes, and future Moon and Mars mission.
Focus Areas and Capabilities
Learn more about the specifications and capabilities of this wind tunnel.
Characteristics
The FDRF is a large, subsonic wind tunnel with a vertical test section for conducting flight dynamics research for stability, controllability, free-fall and aircraft spin, and spin recovery testing of atmospheric vehicles.
Flight Engineers Give NASA’s Dragonfly Lift
When NASA’s Dragonfly begins full rotorcraft integration and testing in early 2026, the mission team will tap into a trove of data gathered through critical technical trials conducted over the past three years, including, most recently, a testing campaign in at the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT) Facility at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
Watch Dragonfly Lift video on YouTubeContact Information
Flight Dynamics Research Facility
Branch Head: Corey G. Diebler
(757) 864-8447
NASA Langley Research Center
1 Nasa Dr.
Hampton, VA 23666
(757) 864-1000
Fact Sheet
NASA’s newest wind tunnel launching in Spring 2026.
The Flight Dynamics Research Facility (FDRF) will soon be NASA’s newest wind tunnel. 2025: Construction completed in late 2026. 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.
