For more than a century, Massachusetts Institute of Technology wind tunnels have proven instrumental tools in the examination of aerospace, architectural, vehicular, sports and other engineering systems.

MIT's Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel's primary use is for student projects, research and instruction, however it is also available for commercial research and development. The tunnel can be operated between 0.25 atmospheres and 2.0 atmospheres, making it the only non-government pressurized wind tunnel in the United States. (Note that the test section is not isolated from the main tunnel, so during non-atmospheric operations the entire tunnel must be pumped or evacuated to make model changes, rendering this particular operation inefficient in terms of data points per hour.)

In addition to the usual force and moment balance system, this 7 X 10-foot elliptical cross-section wind tunnel has the necessary auxiliary equipment for inlet and diffuser testing, gust generation, and production of thick boundary layers to model the earth's boundary layer. It should be noted that the test section is not isolated from the main tunnel: during non-atmospheric operration the entire tunnel must be pumped or evacuated to make model changes, rendering the operation inefficient in terms of data points per hour.

INFORMATION

History of the Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel: Written in 1990, this tells the story of wind tunnels at MIT. View html

WBWT Information for Industry: Recently revised and updated, this booklet provides information and answers questions concerning testing by industry in the Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel. Several new procedures and methods of conducting tests have been developed since earlier editions of this booklet, and are included in the new edition. Diagrams of use to those contemplating a test program are included. Download (.doc 3.8MB)

A Student's Guide to the Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel Download (.pdf 2.1MB)