The full-scale wind tunnel at Langley AFB, Va., the nation’s third largest, closed its doors on Sept. 4 after 78 years of operations. Built in 1930, the 30 foot by 60 foot tunnel served a vital role in aerodynamic testing and research, from biplanes to experimental aircraft. Nearly every fighter aircraft that came along after 1930 up to the F/A-18 was tested there as were NASA’s Mercury entry re-capsule, NASCAR vehicles, and submarines. Most recently Boeing’s X-48 experimental blended-wing-body aircraft was put through the paces in the tunnel. “It’s not possible to walk into this wind tunnel and not feel like you’re walking amongst some of the pioneers in aviation,” said Bob Ash, professor of aerospace engineering at Old Dominion University, which ran the facility. From 1931 to 1944, this wind tunnel was the largest in the world. (Langley report by SSgt. Barry Loo)
B-52s Land at RAF Fairford for Bomber Task Force Mission
Aug. 18, 2022
Multiple B-52 bombers from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., arrived at RAF Fairford, England, on Aug. 18 as part of a bomber task force mission in Europe, U.S. Air Forces in Europe announced. Flying into Fairford, the B-52s from the 5th Bomb Wing got a quick start on training with…