The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s wind tunnels were located in a group of structures on the northern top side of the campus
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The 12-Inch SWT dominated the main room of Building 80, as seen in this view of researchers conducting a test. Airflow in the tunnel is left to right.
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Many models tested in the 12-Inch SWT were mounted on a sting supported by a transverse shaft that was connected to an external balance. Rotating the shaft changed the model’s pitch, but moved it away from the center of the air stream.
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Three 4,000-horsepower compressors were installed with the 20-Inch SWT. They worked in conjunction with other nearby compressors to serve all of the JPL’s tunnels. The horizontal inlet portion of the 20-Inch SWT is visible in the background.
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Tags: JPL Facilities
The 20-Inch SWT was controlled from this area. The devices on the right were beam balance digitizers that automatically recorded data from hydraulic load cells. Much of this changed through the years as increasingly sophisticated data-acquisition equipment came on line.
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