The New A.R.A. Supersonic Wind Tunnel: Details of the Facility Recently Commissioned at Bedford

THE large transonic wind tunnel of the Aircraft Research Association Ltd, at Bedford was described in an article in the May 1956 issue of AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING. The 2 ft. 6 in. × 2 ft. 3 in. supersonic tunnel which was at that time planned is now complete and running. This tunnel is driven by the 13,750 h.p. axial compressor which also serves to evacuate the ventilated working section of the transonic tunnel. This compressor can be isolated from the transonic tunnel, which can then still be operated in the subsonic range, by motorized valves, the operation taking only a few minutes.