NASA, Office of Inspector General

The National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex,(NFAC) managed and operated by AEDC, NAS, remains the world’s largest aerodynamics test facility and, because of its large size, has a wide range of testing capabilities that are unmatched by any other facility of its kind.NFAC, a geographically separated unit located at Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif., is primarily used for determining the aerodynamic characteristics of large-scale and full-scale fixed wing, rotorcraft and powered-lift vertical and short take-off and landing aircraft. Additionally, it has the capability to perform other non-traditional types of wind tunnel testing on test articles as varied as wind turbines, parachutes and long-haul trucks. NFAC has two wind tunnel sections, a 40X80FT originally built in the 1940s, capable of providing test velocities up to 300 knots and Reynolds numbers up to 3 million per foot. The other tunnel is an 80X120FT test section, capable of testing a full-size Boeing 737 at velocities up to 100 knots at nominal unit Reynolds numbers of 1.1 million per foot. This open-circuit leg was added and a new fan drive system was installed in the 1980s.Both test sections are lined for acoustic testing.A system of movable vanes can be positioned so that air is either drawn through the 80X120FT test section and exhausted into the atmosphere, or driven around the closed circuit through the 40X80FT test section. A passive air exchange system is utilized in the circuit to keep air temperature below 125 degree Fahrenheit. Parachutes, helicopters, helicopter blades and wind turbines are only a few projects that have, and continue to be, tested at NFAC. Orion parachute testing was performed in the 80X120FT WT in late 2014 and early 2015 prior to Exploration Mission-1. NASA researchers, AEDC engineers, NFAC personnel and Airborne Systems worked to help improve the safety and reliability of landing the Orion spacecraft. In all, the team tested 13 parachute configurations.