1928—NACA Cowling Wind Tunnel research began. This research led to a series of component drag studies that resulted in aircraft drag reduction, which increased aircraft speeds and range.

1929—Construction began on 30x60 full-scale wind tunnel. This wind tunnel allowed testing of actual aircraft, including manufacturing details that led to important “drag cleanup” improvements.

1930—Atmospheric Wind Tunnel (AWT) became operational at NACA Langley. Research performed in the AWT produced an important knowledge base and essential design data relative not only to basic performance, but also to aircraft stability and control, power effects, flying qualities, aerodynamic loads, and high-lift systems.

1933—NACA Report 460, “The Characteristics of 78 Related Airfoil Sections from Tests in the Variable-Density Wind Tunnel,” the culmination of 10 years of research, was published. The report included a groundbreaking systematic study of airfoils and produced the airfoil numbering system of today.

1936–1945—Thermal Ice Prevention Systems at NACA were created to investigate effective countermeasures to the problems of ice formation on aircraft.

back to the top