IBM 1401 Data Processing System, at NASA's Ames Research Center.

IBM 1401 Data Processing System at NASA Ames Research Center.

NACA Ames 40x80 foot wind tunnel (South West).

Equipment: Data Processing and Data Reduction at the NASA Ames Research Center, EMC. IBM 7090 Data Processing System.

IBM 7090 computer and personnel: L-R: R Smith, IBM; Smith DeFrance, Ames; H Funk, IBM; Marcie Chartz Smith, Ames; D Swartz, IBM; discuss installation of computer at Ames.

Installation of the Douglas A-26B airplane in the 40x80 foot wind tunnel at NACA's Ames Research Center. Airplane being centered over tunnel opening.

Publicity Shot of close up of Nacell, Drive Nacel and cooling vent in nose for wind tunnel in NACA Ames 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel.

Looking South from inside the diffuser of the 40x80 foot wind tunnel at NACA's Ames Research Center. Construction began in late 1941, the mammoth construction task sorely taxing the resources of the new center. Two and a half years later, in dune 1944, the 40 x 80-foot full-scale tunnel went into operation.

3/4 front view from below of the Ryan FR-1 airplane mounted in the NACA Ames 40x80 foot wind tunnel. Production configuration.

Investigation of High Lift and Stall Control on 45 deg. 3/4 front view Sweptback Cambered and Twisted Wing, in Ames 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel.

A chambered and twisted wing-body. Arrow wing hypersonic model tested in the 6x6 foot wind tunnel at the NASA Ames Research Center.

3/4 front view of Fixed Wing SST - Lockheed SST on Ground Plane with leading edge flaps deflected in Ames 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel.

Rear view of the Avrocar with tail, mounted on variable height struts. Overhead doors of the wind tunnel test section open. The first Avrocar, S/N 58-7055 (marked AV-7055), after tethered testing, became the "wind tunnel" test model at NASA Ames, where it remained in storage from 1961 until 1966, when it was donated to the National Air and Space Museum, in Suitland, Maryland.

3/4 front view of model in Ames 40x80 foot wind tunnel.

3/4 front view of Lockheed Rigid Rotor model in Ames 40x80 foot wind Tunnel.

Front lower view of Gates Learjet in Ames 40x80 foot wind tunnel at high angel of attack. Test was part of a deep stall study.

3/4 front view from below of Delta wing Model with Nose Inlet in Ames 40x80 foot wind tunnel.

Looking West at three test section bents in place for the Ames 40 x 80 foot wind tunnel. Concrete model scale support visible in the middle.

Vertol-76 Descent Test. Tilt Wing airplane prop rig at 80 deg. Angle of attack, in the 40x80 foot wind tunnel at NASA's Ames Research Center.

Deep Stall Model in Ames 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel. 3/4 front view from below of swept wing jet transport with T-Tail and Aft Engins, with Art Morris.

3/4 rear view from below of swept wing jet transport with T-Tail and Aft Engins, with Art Morris. Deep Stall Model in Ames 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel.

3/4 front view in Ames 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel investigation of the Lockheed T-33 modified for area-suction leading-edge and trailing edge flaps.

3/4 view of model in cruise configuration with 25 deg. Sweep, AR=6.9. SCAT-16; Variable Sweep Model in 40x80 Wind Tunnel at NASA Ames.

(11/12/1971) 3/4 rear view of swept 75% scale augmentor wing quest model being installed into the test section of the Ames 40x80 foot wind tunnel, overhead doors open.

Dr. Karl Mueller, Director, Ames National Laboratory, welcomes NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to the lab, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

(Oct. 27 1976) Controllable Twist Rotor, 40x80 Foot Wind Tunnel at Ames Research Center, model With John Bolt.

Avrocar Annular Jet VTOL Airplane in Ames 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel.

3/4 front view of XV-4A Hummingbird VTOL Research Vehicle in Ames 40x80 wind tunnel with Tom Wills in Photo.

Front View of -45 deg. Forward swept wing with inboard split flaps deflected 60 deg. In NACA Ames 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel.

Test No. 175 Kaman K-16 in 40x80 Foot Wind Tunnel at Ames Research Center. Kaman K-16B was an experimental tilt wing aircraft, it used the fuselage of a JRF-5 and was powered by two General Electric YT58-GE-2A engines.

Concrete frame enclosing the fan drive bents of the 40x80 foot wind tunnel at ames. Once installed, six 40-foot-diameter fans, each powered by a 6000-horsepower electric motor maintained airflow at 230 mph or less (these are still tornado velocities).

David Cook, President, Iowa State University welcomes NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to the Ames National Laboratory, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, right, speaks during a workforce Q&A session, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif. Ames marks the tenth stop in Isaacman’s roadshow to visit NASA facilities and engage directly with the agency’s workforce. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman poses for a photograph with the workforce, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif. Ames marks the tenth stop in Isaacman’s roadshow to visit NASA facilities and engage directly with the agency’s workforce. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman views an arc jet test, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif. Ames marks the tenth stop in Isaacman’s roadshow to visit NASA facilities and engage directly with the agency’s workforce. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, right, greets members of the workforce, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif. Ames marks the tenth stop in Isaacman’s roadshow to visit NASA facilities and engage directly with the agency’s workforce. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, left, views an arc jet test, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif. Ames marks the tenth stop in Isaacman’s roadshow to visit NASA facilities and engage directly with the agency’s workforce. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

Tilt wing propeller model. 3/4 front view. 4 prop tilt wing nose down variable struts on ground board. Leo Holl, NASA Ames Engineer.

3/4 front view of model without nacelles on regular struts. Generalized Subsonic Jet Transport model with leading edge and trailing edge blowing BLC in the 40x80 foot wind tunnel at NASA Ames.

3/4 front view, a=0. de Havilland Augmenter Wing Model, High Lift System in Ames 40x80 Foot Wind Tunnel. Cecil McDonald and Al Wheelband in picture.

The Peregrine Hybrid Rocket Engine, profile view, prior to the test at the Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility (OARF, N-249) at Ames Research Center.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, right, listens to Wenyu Huang, Scientist, Ames National Laboratory, left, as he tours the facility, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, right, listens to Jordan Tiarks, Scientist, Ames National Laboratory, left, as he tours the lab, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

3/4 front view of Lockheed AH-56A (Cheyenne) Helicopter in Ames 40x80 Foot Wind Tunnel

Test No. 175 Kaman K-16 in 40x80 Foot Wind Tunnel at Ames Research Center. Pictured with two Kaman employees. 3/4 Front view of Airplane. Kaman K-16B was an experimental tilt wing aircraft, it used the fuselage of a JRF-5 and was powered by two General Electric YT58-GE-2A engines.

Test No. 175 Kaman K-16 being lowered into the 40x80 foot wind tunnel at NASA's Ames Research Center, viewed from the front. Kaman K-16B was an experimental tilt wing aircraft, it used the fuselage of a JRF-5 and was powered by two General Electric YT58-GE-2A engines.

Installation Photos, 3/4 front view from below. F-111B in Ames 40x80 Foot Wind Tunnel. The General Dynamics/Grumman F-111B was a long-range carrier-based interceptor aircraft that was planned to be a follow-on to the F-4 Phantom II. The F-111B was developed in the 1960s by General Dynamics in conjunction with Grumman for the United States Navy (USN) as part of the joint Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX) with the United States Air Force (USAF) to produce a common fighter for the services that could perform a variety of missions. It incorporated innovations such as variable-geometry wings, afterburning turbofan engines, and a long-range radar and missile weapons system.

3/4 front view of Douglas F5D Skylancer modified to "ogee" platform inlet plug installed in Ames 40x80 foot wind tunnel.

Test of Lockheed YC-130 Turbo-Propeller Installation in Ames 40x80 Foot Wind Tunnel. 3/4 front view from below.

(03/12/1943) Aerial view of the site from the 40x80 wind tunnel At NASA Ames Research Center. Site includes the 16 foot and 7x10 wind tunnels in the background. Building 200 also under construction. Framing for the drive fans of the 40x80 in scene.

Ashley Karp, NASA JPL (Left) and Hunjoo Kim, NASA JPL (Right) attaching heat sensors the Peregrine Hybrid Rocket Engine prior to its test at the Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility (OARF, N-249) at NASA's Ames Research Center.

From Left to Right: 1. Hunjoo Kim (NASA JPL) 2. Kyle Botteon (NASA JPL) 3. Ashley Karp (NASA JPL) 4. Brian Schratz (NASA JPL) Testing the Peregrine Hybrid Rocket Engine at the Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility (building N249, OARF) at Ames Research Center.

Hunjoo Kim, NASA JPL (Left) and Ashley Karp, NASA JPL (Right) attaching heat sensors the Peregrine Hybrid Rocket Engine prior to its test at the Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility (OARF, N-249) at NASA’s Ames Research Center.

(Left): Kyle Botteon (front) and Hunjpp Kim (Behind), NASA JPL. (Right): Gregory Zilliac, Advance Propulsion Technician. NASA Ames, preparing the Peregrine Hybrid Rocket Engine at the Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility (OARF, N-249).

Tom Lograsso, Director, Critical Materials Innovation Hub, talks to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, and others, during a tour of lab, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

3/4 front view of M-1-L inflatable recovery able lifting body model in Ames 40x80 foot wind tunnel. Mechanic, Ray Schmorance included in picture.

3/4 front view from below, showing Pods and Fan Rotating. March A. Zeiger standing in front. Tandem Dual Ducted Fan V/STOL Model in Ames 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel

Vanguard 2C vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) airplane, wind tunnel test. Front view from below, model 14 1/2 feet high disk off. Nasa Ames engineer Ralph Maki in photo. Variable height struts and ground plane, low pressure ratio, fan in wing. 02/01/1960.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, right, listens to James Morris, Chief Research Officer, Ames National Laboratory, left, as he tours the facility, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Test section of the Ames 40 x 80 foot wind tunnel with the overhead doors open. XSB2D-1 airplane being lowered onto the struts by the overhead crane. Mechanics and engineers on orchard ladders aligning the model with ball sockets on the struts. The Douglas BTD Destroyer was an American dive/ torpedo bomber developed for the United States Navy during World War II.

Long Range Laser Velocimeter in 40x80x120 Foot Wind Tunnel at NASA Ames. For use in NFAC.

Foreword, front view of McDonnell Model XV-1 Convertiplane in the Ames 40x80 Foot Wind Tunnel. The McDonnell XV-1 was an experimental compound gyroplane developed for a joint research program between the United States Air Force and the United States Army to explore technologies to develop an aircraft that could take off and land like a helicopter but fly at faster airspeeds, similar to a conventional airplane. The XV-1 would reach a speed of 200 mph (322 km/h), faster than any previous rotorcraft, but the program was terminated due to the tip-jet noise and complexity of the technology which gave only a modest gain in performance.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman contemplates a portrait of Dr. Joseph S. Ames, in N232.

Lockheed XH-51 Experimental Rigid Rotors, no hinges, in Ames 40x80 foot wind tunnel. John McCloud (left sitting) Jack Rabbot (Right).

(11/12/1971) 3/4 Scale swept augmentor wing Quest model being installed into the test section of the ames 40 x 80 foot wind tunnel, overhead doors open.

3/4 front view VZ-11 ground test - variable height struts. Engines of the VZ-11 are a pair of General Electric J85-5 turbojets, mounted in high in the centre fuselage, well away from fan disturbance. Designed in the Ames 40x80 foot wind tunnel.

(03/12/1976) Overhead view of 1/50 scale model of the 80x120 foot wind tunnel model (NFAC) in the test section of the 40x80 wind tunnel at NASA Ames. Model mounted on a rotating ground board designed for this test.

3/4 view of the Nozzle of the Peregrine Rocket Motor, tested at the Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility (OARF, N-249). at Ames Research Center.

Computers' at work in 16ft wind tunnel - calculating test data

Overhead view of Boeing Super Sonic Transport , wings un-swept.

Rear view of the Avrocar with tail, mounted on variable height struts. Overhead doors of the wind tunnel test section open.

Application of blowing type boundry-layer control to the leading and trailing edge flaps of a 52 deg swept wing. 3/4 view of Aspect Ratio 2.8, taper ratio .17, 45 deg swept back wing model -3/4 front view

Gliding parachute test in 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel, mounted on main strut flying horizontally.

Test #9.

3/4 front view of Lear Jet with Boom installed at 0 degree of attack. Ed Varrette in Photo.

3/4 front view of the Lockheed Stopped Rotor with blades unfolded. Charles Greco and Ed Verrette in photo.

3/4 front view from below of Air Force F-104. The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed by Lockheed for the United States Air Force (USAF). One of the Century Series of fighter aircraft, it was operated by the air forces of more than a dozen nations from 1958 to 2004.

One of the first helicopter tests in the 40 x 80 wind tunnel. John McCloud, pictured, started helicopter work in the 40 x 80. Test 150. Testing the effects of camber on rotor blades.

3/4 front view from below.

Computers' at work in 16ft wind tunnel - calculating test data

Harvey Allen at his retirement party held in the Ames Hangar N-211.

F-14A fighter model lifted from the shop floor of the 40 x 80 foot wind tunnel. 3/4 scale

(02/18/1964) Apollo 3 Parachute cluster, flown vertically in 40x80 wind tunnel. Parachutes mounted on a control head with reels to vary the line lengths.

Forward overhead view of lift fan transport model, with two, of a possible six, high pressure ratio wing lift fans. Lift Fan Model In 40 X 80 Wind Tunnel; Test 40-347

Lift engine VSTOL fighter model, 3/4 lower front view showing jet engines exit vanes. Yarn tufts attached to horizontal tail.

3/4 lower rear view of Controllable Twist Rotor (CTR) test of 4 blade helicopter model. Pictures with Ben Mandwyler Andy Lemnios, in 40x80 foot wind tunnel. Small flaps on rotor blades.

3/4 lower front view of Controllable Twist Rotor (CTR) test of 4 blade helicopter model. Pictures with Ben Mandwyler Andy Lemnios, John McCloud (wheel chair), in 40x80 foot wind tunnel. Small flaps on rotor blades.

SCAT-15F supersonic transport model, lower 3/4 front view.

Aerial view looking North West of the nearly completed 40 x 80 foot wind tunnel. Drive and test section exposed. The facility covered 8 acres, and the air circuit was just over 1/2 mile long (2700 feet).

Helicopter view showing west area, south San Francisco Bay in background

Supersonic transport model test in 40x80 foot wind tunnel, 3/4 overhead view of model in shop floor. 04/06/1961 R 975 T

Looking south at the construction of the test section of the 40 x 80 foot wind tunnel. 4 parts of a test section bent seen in the foreground. Airship rising in the background.

Next Generation PIAA mirrors were made by Tinsley and are inside the enclosure. Shows dummy set-up uning early PIAA mirors made by Axsys on loan to Ames from JPL.

NASA N941NA lift off from Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, it is the last Super Guppy still flying.

4 propeller Tilt Wing. Pictured with Tommy Wills wind tunnel mechanic in the 40x80 foot wind tunnel.

Top view if GE fan model, 3/4 top view. Straight wing. 1 fan per wing, conventional struts. Woody Kook, Branch Chief.

M-2 lifting body wind tunnel model with wind tunnel mechanic Chuck Greco. Model mounted on special support designed for lifting body models. Flaps and elevons visible.

de Havilland augmenter wing model 3/4 front view in 40 x 80 wind tunnel. JOHN CONWAY, ALAN WHEELBAND

Investigation of a tilt-wing/propeller model with blowing flaps. 3/4 front view, tilt wing model, wing position = 0deg. C-123 fuselage, conventional struts, 4 props

Top Plan view of Bell Rotor with Ed Verrett left frame. Test #437.