How Wind Tunnels Developed the First Jets

by FliteTest | April 12, 2018 | (4) Posted in Just Fun

Back before the advent of computerised modelling software, aircraft designers relied heavily on model aircraft to develop their designs. Most notably, the wind tunnel was developed to physically measure aerodynamic forces, pressure distribution and other characteristics. 

Model of Vulcan aircraft, c.1948. Image courtesy of the Science Museum Group Collection under Creative Commons Attribution.

In these wind tunnels, models of all sizes made from various materials were tested. Many of these were carved from mahogany. 

Model of Vulcan aircraft, c.1948. Image courtesy of the Science Museum Group Collection under Creative Commons Attribution.

Wind tunnels have actually existed for a lot longer than airplanes. Back in the 19th century, Osborne Reynolds proved with a set of experiments that airflow over a model would be the same for a full-scale counterpart. This would have been useful for developing all sorts of things back then unrelated to aviation. For example, knowing more about how air works on a surface was clearly quite helpful for sailing boat development. This work was also extremely helpful for Otto Lilienthal and then the Wright Brothers who could accurately predict the forces required for flight through basic wind tunnel research. 


Originating from Reynolds' experimentation, the Reynolds number is now the standard unit of measurement for fluid mechanics. If I ever invent or discover anything important, I'll definitely be calling it the Whomsley *insert thing here*.


I found a great little video by British Pathe showing the methods of making and testing these models that were used in wind tunnels way back in the 1950s. I'm not sure about you, but I'd love to have one of those mahogany miniature jets sitting on my desk. 


Today, researchers and developers are still using wind tunnels. However increasingly, as you would expect, a huge amount of the design process is done through software that models aircraft in a virtual environment. The materials and methods may have changed, but the principles remain the same. 


More from British Pathe


Article by James Whomsley

Editor of FliteTest.com

James@whomsley.net

www.youtube.com/projectairaviation

Instagram @jameswhomsley

COMMENTS

RodgeyD on April 18, 2018
Great article James , don't know if you ever saw the Vulcan fly ? I was lucky enough to see the last air worthy Vulcan fly at the Sunderland Air Show , what a howl from those 4 engines ! Sight and sound never forgotten.
Has any one from flitetest community made a Vulcan, would be great to see one .
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FoamTest on April 20, 2018
I would ask Mid7night on the forums, he is currently building a XB_70 Valk right now.
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Nathaniel on April 12, 2018
Nice article! I like all the history included in it!
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JamesWhomsley on April 12, 2018
Great to hear!
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How Wind Tunnels Developed the First Jets