by Kenneth Mort
Former NACA and NASA Research Engineer
This will be a second presentation of Ken’s excellent talk that he gave at the SFBAC Awards Banquet on Aug 18. If you missed it or weren’t able to get a signed copy of Ken’s book, here’s your second chance!
This is the first comprehensive reporting of the history of the world’s largest wind tunnels. The publication covers 80 years of design, construction, use, and modifications to what is today referred to as the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex and currently operated by the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex at NASA Ames Research Center. The 409-page NASA Special Publication is the definitive manuscript describing the circumstances and justifications for the requirements, test objectives, and usages of the world’s largest wind tunnels. It documents every test program conducted in the facilities since their inception in July 1944 for the 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel and since 1987 for the 80- by 120- Foot Wind Tunnel, respectively, through the year 2020.
Mr. Kenneth Mort was an NACA test engineer assigned to the 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel in the 1950s and has remained involved with test operations and NASA and Air Force wind tunnel staff to today. His often first-hand recollection of testing activities over this period is unmatched for any wind tunnel facility in the world. His collection of archival photographic documentation contained in the book was compiled over years of work with NASA archivists.
Wednesday, October 26, 3:00pm
Location: NASA Ames Research Center, Bldg. N258 Conference Room
Reception and book-signing after the talk!
Visitors to Ames will require a visitor badge – non-Ames personnel must RSVP by Mon, Oct 24 to receive a badge.
All Attendees: Please RSVP to Stephen Wright (stephen.j.wright@nasa.gov) by Tue, Oct 25.
Due to security restrictions, onsite attendance at Ames will be limited to U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents.