As many will have seen, last night’s edition of ‘Antiques Roadshow’, on BBC television, came from Farnborough. In the programme’s introduction, reference was made to the history of the wind tunnels and it was claimed that these were large enough to take full size aeroplanes. Briefly a photograph was shown in support of this contention. Sadly I was not paying sufficient attention, during the brief moments when the photograph was shown, to be able to identify the aeroplane illustrated. However my recollection is that it was a pre-WW2 RAF monoplane. Was anyone concentrating more than me and thus can identify the type and serial number of the aeroplane in the photograph?
Anyhow, the foregoing is not the principal reason for initiating this thread. In ‘Miles Aircraft since 1925’, addressing the fate of the Miles M.13 Hobby, Don Brown said:
“In May 1938 the Hobby……was sold to the Royal Aircraft Establishment for full-scale wind-tunnel research, because its small span enabled it to be accomodated in their 24 ft. tunnel.”
Now the wingspan of the Hobby was only 21′ 5″. Were there any pre-WW2 RAF aeroplanes with a span of less than 24′ that could have been accomodated in the wind tunnel to which Don Brown referred? However I also seem to recollect that the television programme referred to wind tunnels (in the plural). So might it be the case that there is a second, larger wind tunnel at Farnborough and it was in this that the photograph, which featured on the television programme, was taken? If so, can anyone tell me the dimensions of this wind tunnel?
By: Paul F - 12th November 2012 at 14:08
A few photos
The photobucket page below (sorry haven’t worked out how to past a hyperlink yet!) shows a few photos from an hour or so I spent wandering around the old Farnborough Wind Tunnel area one sunny Sunday afternoon last summer.
http://s395.beta.photobucket.com/user/PaulGFry/library/201108%20RAE%20Farnborough
Despite the encroachment of new development, the area is so atmospheric, well worth a wander, even on days when the tunnels are not open to visitors. Its just a shame so little of the former RAe remains. Still, at least the tunnels were saved!
Park outside the hotel/pub/coffee bar/gym complex just round the corner from the skeleton of the old demountable airship hangar and its a minute’s walk through to the heart of the wind tunnel area.
I too will be watching out for tunnel open days Tony… I assume FAST will carry details on their webpage? Luckily I have family in the area so they will give me the “nod” if they see anything in local media.
Paul F
P.S. Looks like I did post as a hyperlink – more by luck than judgement!
By: Tony at BH - 12th November 2012 at 13:16
They also said on the program that they do guided tours of the wind tunnels. Anyone have any info on this? I’d love to see them. Scanned the web for info but couldn’t find anything..
Tony.
By: avion ancien - 12th November 2012 at 12:35
…..but not when you live outside the UK! But thank you, nonetheless, for answering my initial qustion, jeepman, and also for the useful information which you provided, pagen01.
By: jeepman - 12th November 2012 at 12:31
It was the modified Bulldog engine test bed K3183 – BBC iPlayer is your friend!
By: pagen01 - 12th November 2012 at 12:13
I seem to think it was a biplane shown in the tunnel, but it was unusual and beyond my I.D. skills!
I have seen pictures of a Hurricane mounted in the tunnel, bear in mind that whole aircraft were mounted in a larger span space just ahead of the wind tunnel mouth.
Most pictures seem to show very large scale wind tunnel models suspend in the mouth area.
The low-speed 24ft (Q121) tunnel is the largest bore of the tunnels that have existed on the site, which have included a smaller low-speed, and transonic (converted from sub sonic) tunnels.
Q121 is an amazing place to visit.
Sign In
November 12, 2012 at 11:45 am