Historical Photo Of The Month - December 2001

Wind Tunnel Compressor Room
Photograph Number 291-87C

This 1950 photo shows the three large compressors used by the 20-inch Supersonic Wind Tunnel in building 79. According to a floor plan of the mezzanine level, each one included (from left to right) a 4,000 HP Westinghouse motor, a drive, and a 55,000 cubic foot Ingersoll-Rand compressor. Air was forced through a series of large pipes through and above the building. A flexible nozzle near the test section controlled the speed of air flowing over scale models of aircraft, engines, missiles, and projectiles, from Mach 1 to Mach 4.8.

A 1949 memo from Wind Tunnel Section Chief Frank E. Goddard, Jr. to JPL Director Louis G. Dunn described wind tunnel activities and facilities. At that time, the 20-inch Wind Tunnel was under construction, and it went into full operation in 1951.

Building 79 is still standing today, but the wind tunnel equipment is gone and the area is now divided into several different laboratories used for low temperature microgravity testing.

For more information about wind tunnels, or about the history of JPL, contact the JPL Archives.

Past Photos of the Month
Thumbnail pages 1996-2002 | 2003+

Past Photos of the Month Subject Index