1949 Lewis Inspection
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory
At the September 1949 Inspection, the NACA unveiled Lewis’ recently completed 8-by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel and a new style of presenting the technical information in a more understandable manner.
Overview
The Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory’s third Inspection, on September 20 to 22, 1949, featured the nation’s largest supersonic wind tunnel, the brand new 8-by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel. Guides provided the guest with descriptions of the tunnel’s operation and instrumentation. The 1949 Inspection was the NACA’s first attempt to present the material in a streamlined manner that reduced the amount of technical language and increased the use of visual aids.
During this period, Lewis concentrated its efforts on the ever-increasing demand for additional engine power, particularly for the military. Just weeks before the Inspection, Lewis appointed Abe Silverstein as director of research. Silverstein’s opening remarks stressed the interconnectedness of the laboratory’s various research groups in pursuing the laboratory’s mission of “understanding the basic nature of the propulsion process.” The tour stops covered issues such as supersonic missile research, afterburners, altitude ignition, high-temperature materials, compressor and turbine work, and rocket fuels.
More than 1200 guests attended the 1949 Inspection—industry one day, military the next, and local businesses the third. Robert Sessions supervised the planning of the event, which included the enlistment of 125 apprentices to construct six protective mounds around the Rocket Lab. Again, the staff could view talks on Friday, and families could tour buildings on Sunday.
Guest Materials
Introductions
Presentations
- Fuels Research Discussion (1949)
- Rocket Research Talk (1949)
- Supersonic Propulsion Talks (1949)
- Compressor Aerodynamics Talk (1949)
- Turbine Cooling Talks (1949)
- Heat Transfer and Fuels Evaluation Talks (1949)
- High Temp Materials and Stress Talks (1949)
- Altitude Operational Problems (1949)
Media Materials
- Lewis Press Releases and Photographs (1949)
- Pegasus Magazine Article (1949)
- Newspaper Articles On Inspection (1949)
Logistics
- Inspection Attendees (1949)
- List of Invitations (1949)
- Inspection Planning Materials (1949)
- Tour Planning (1949)
- Preparations of Technical Talks (1949)
- Post-Event Materials (1949)
- Thank You Letters (1949)
1949 Lewis Inspection Photos
View additional images from the NACA's 1949 Inspection at the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Return to the NACA Inspections introductory webpage which contains links to the individual Inspections.
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