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This wind tunnel was
orientated vertically such that the wind blew upwards against the
gravitational force on a free falling aircraft model. It allowed the study
of both the ways in which an aircraft could enter a spin and the
techniques of recovery from it. Designed to accept models with wing-spans
of up to seven feet, the circular working section of the tunnel was
fifteen feet in diameter. Air was drawn up through the tunnel by an
eight-bladed variable pitch fan powered by a 1500hp electric motor and
speeds up to 100mph could be achieved. Because the problems associated
with spinning were less acute by the time the tunnel was completed, it was
not extensively used. However, because it could contain air at a pressure
of four atmospheres, it was extensively employed as a storage vessel to
provide large amounts of compressed air to other site facilities
The whole complex which houses the tunnel is now operated as a leisure facility by the company “Bodyflight”, and the tunnel is extensively used to fly human skydivers.
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This page last updated - 07/06/2023
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