European wind tunnels

This first in a two-part series on global wind tunnel use and capabilities investigates several European research organizations' facilities.

Aerodynamic efficiency has been crucial for the achievement of safe flight since the birth of fixed-wing aviation. Wind tunnels have long played a central part in helping to achieve that efficiency without unnecessary risk to life or aircraft. Today, wind tunnels of many shapes, sizes, and types proliferate across the world and are a vital tool for the aerospace designer and engineer. What was probably the first aeronautical wind tunnel was built at a time when determined amateurs were still experimenting with gliders. It was created in Britain by Francis Wenham in 1871, 32 years before the Wrights found powered flight success at Kittyhawk, and was comprised of a simple box through which a steam-powered fan blew air. It may have been crude but it was the right formula, the basics of which have endured to this day. The pioneering Wright brothers also built a wind tunnel using a box and fan driven by a gasoline engine.

Throughout the early decades of the 20^th century, the importance of wind tunnels increased as understanding deepened of the performance and economic benefits of aerodynamic efficiency. This importance was accelerated rapidly by the demands of World War II and by the advent of the jet engine and supersonic flight. Today, the wind tunnel is an essential tool of every company involved in aircraft design, providing the foundation for aerodynamic design and with the use of scale models, a cost-effective means of doing so. The sophistication of wind tunnels has grown to reflect the complexity and demands of aircraft programs in terms of performance, economy, and overall financial pressures. The number and type of wind tunnels in Europe are many and varied. Some are of world-class standard and play a part in the development of major projects; many wind tunnels are small but fulfill a significant research and development role within universities, companies, and technical institutions.