X-48C at Langley

[Star Voyager]

A scale model of the X-48C BWB (blended wing body) has been transported to Langley Research Center in Langley, Virginia. It will use a historic wind tunnel the will be decommisioned after the tests. Here is what NASA has:

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/aeronautics/features/x48c.html

 

[Usquanigo]

"Lack of national strategic importance". What about historic? I hate how we tear everything down all the time. 1930 has to make it one of the earlier wind tunnels, and what was designed and tested there through the years? Plus I'm certain it could be turned into a buisness venture allowing schools, individual students, buisnesses, and average joe citizens access to it. As long as they did it right, it could work. But instead the mindset is just "tear it all down".

The only reason Deusenbergs never ended up in demolition derbys is because they were so expensive that they were never really cheap (ie, always had value). And thank god for it. Because if not, some jackhole would have said "hey it's old, let's smash it up". ugh.

 

[Star Voyager]

A final goodbye to the tunnel:

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/aeronautics/features/fst_ceremony.html

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, doesn't the USA have a closed wind full-scale tunnel somewhere? Wouldn't make much sense to keep two of them...

But still, sad to see such a historic artifact go.

Also, this one is still preserved at Langley:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_Scale_30-_by_60-Foot_Tunnel

And then there is this one at Ames...

 

[JamesG]

Also:

llimited testing capability, deteriorating condition and the environmental liability associated with the materials used in its construction.

Which probably means asbestos. Sometimes its just time to say good bye.