Industry Uses NASA Wind Tunnels to Design New Airplanes (Forwarded)

Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington Feb. 8, 2006
(202) 358-1979

Kathy Barnstorff
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
(757) 864-9886

Lori Gunter
The Boeing Company, Seattle
(425) 717-0571

RELEASE: 06-060

INDUSTRY USES NASA WIND TUNNELS TO DESIGN NEW AIRPLANES

NASA-developed wind tunnel technology is being used by the aviation
industry to perfect new airplane designs throughout the entire
development process.

The Boeing Company, Seattle, is one manufacturer purchasing wind
tunnel time in the U.S. National Transonic Facility at NASA's Langley
Research Center, Hampton, Va., to test new aviation concepts, before
applying them in flight.

Boeing is evaluating high-lift system designs for its new 787 jet
aircraft. High-lift systems include the flaps and slats used to
increase the lift performance of the wing, allowing the airplane to
take off and land safely and efficiently.

"Unlike conventional wind tunnels, the National Transonic Facility can
duplicate the aerodynamics of the flight environment, even with small
scale models," said facility chief aerodynamicist Rich Wahls. "That
allows the aircraft manufacturers to produce better performing
airplanes with less risk."

To test its new high-lift concepts, Boeing developers designed new
787-style trailing edge flaps and fit them to an existing 5.2 percent
scale 777 semi-span model. The stainless steel model, which looks
like one-half of an airplane cut down the middle from nose to tail,
is mounted on the sidewall of the wind tunnel.

Even small improvements in performance of a high-lift system can
significantly improve the take-off field length, weight carrying
capability, and range of a transport aircraft. The improvements can
also help reduce aircraft noise. But making improvements is not easy,
because of the complex airflow issues encountered when flaps and
slats are extended from a wing.

The National Transonic Facility is a unique wind tunnel developed by
NASA that uses super cold nitrogen gas at high pressure to duplicate
true flight aerodynamics. It can accommodate models as small as
one-fiftieth the size of the actual aircraft. Unlike conventional
wind tunnels, this facility can adjust the characteristics of the
airflow to match the size of the model. Results help engineers
determine how new designs will work on real planes in flight.

"In the past, engineers have come to the National Transonic Facility
to further understand and solve problems with systems that have
already been developed," Wahls said. "Now we're also seeing this test
capability being used during the aircraft design phase."

Boeing has purchased additional time in the facility during February
to evaluate the final 787 high-lift configuration.

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