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Smith DeFrance

Portrait of Smith DeFrance
Smith DeFrance was the engineer behind the design and operation of the Langley Full-Scale Tunnel, the world's largest wind tunnel when it went into operation in 1931.

Smith DeFrance was the engineer behind the design and operation of the Langley Full-Scale Tunnel, the world’s largest wind tunnel when it went into operation in 1931.

The tunnel tested full-sized aircraft for almost seven decades. DeFrance went on to become the first director of the Ames Research Center.

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Credit: NASA