I have long been interested in aircraft development, especially during WW2 and the German Projects in particular. I have never seen anything mentioning Wind Tunnels specifically and thought this was an interesting subject to post. One of the greatest items of scientific WW2 War Reparations for the Allies, and not just the physical size, was the Munchen Aviation Research Institute's High Speed Wind Tunnel located in the Ötz Valley in the Tyrol. It was code named "Buildfing Project 101". This plant was almost completed at the end of the war and was at the time the largest wind tunnel facility in the world. Hydro-electric Pelton Turbines with an output of 76 megawatts or 100,000 HP, could produce wind and airflow speeds of up to supersonic levels in the 18 metre (59 foot) diameter, 140 metre (460 foot) long measuring chamber. The Americans wanted to ship the facility back to the US, but faced violent opposition from the their French Allies. After a lot of arguement and controversy as to where the wind tunnel was to be relocated the French won the day and the facility was removed, starting in October 1945 and 13 complete goods trains were used to carry away the contents. The facility was rebuilt in France at Modane in the Savoy Alps with the help of the German specialists. The French Aviation industry thereby gained one of the most modern and important advance test facilities in the world. It is still in use today. From the book Luftwaffe secret projects, by Dieter Herwig and Heinz Rode. Regards Tom
Courtesy of the Retronaut; Messerchmitt in a wind tunnel, 1940: Messerschmitt in a wind tunnel, 1940 | Retronaut (more on the site.) Made me look for more... NASA - WWII & NACA: US Aviation Research Helped Speed Victory World War 2 Pictures In Color :: The Best of Black and White WWII Photos :: mustang WWII - B-25 WIND TUNNEL TESTS - NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION - 1942 Falmanac: May 2010 Supermarine Spitfire, 1940
The 'Mustang' one is a link to another shot, mate - was on another forum so it seemed a bit cheap to pinch it.
Adam, Here is an old thread of mine regarding the German Wind Tunnel and War Reparation. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-air/23140-ww2-german-wind-tunnel.html Regards Tom
http://www.arnold.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-120305-099.pdf German/US Wind tunnels (1945/49) (Oetz) http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675049854_German-Fritz-X-bomb_installing-transmitter-receiver_installing-rockets_roll-gyro Takes me back to college days one formula was the Frontal area and drag rule
Wills, That is a really good link that you posted containing the Wind Tunnel report. It shows the political intrigue at the end of the war. Regards Tom
Bugger! Did a search and missed that. Sorry, Tom. Merged. Adam, No need to apologise. War time technological advances are always good subjects to read. Regards Tom
