Preserved RAE Wind Tunnels

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A group of us went round the 'Wind Tunnel Project' today at the old RAE Farnborough site. Mainly this allowed access to two of the preserved wind tunnels, the 24 foot wind tunnel in Q121 Building and the Supersonic tunnel in R52 building. Although I worked for many years in the RAE I never managed to see these.

The Supersonic tunnel is very impressive but the 24 foot one is amazing. It's huge and on the inside looks more like a cathedral. It was large enough that full-size aircraft could be hung in the tunnel. The photos in very dark conditions were taken in the air recirculation spaces. Curved pillars at the ends ensured the air circulates smoothly!

Some photos below.

24 Foot Tunnel
















Supersonic Tunnel

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Thanks for the impressive pictures adola.I was lucky enough to have a guided tour in the early 90's. The 24ft is just amazing. Sadly the RAE at the time was having an identity crisis!! DRA / DERA and all that!

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I escaped while the DRA/DERA 'reorganisation' (alias destruction/sell-off) was going on! I could read the writing on the wall. After our recent tour we went round the National Aerospace Museum in the 'Hub' (or Q134 Building to me!). Very impressive, but the librarian told us most of the old RAE Library (including all the RAE Technical Reports) was 'dispersed' during the DRA/DERA era. The aerospace library is trying to recreate a collection of RAE Technical Reports, mainly from copies kept by BAE Systems, Universities etc!

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Jul 4, 2014 20:17:09 GMT 1 @adola68 said:

I escaped while the DRA/DERA 'reorganisation' (alias destruction/sell-off) was going on! I could read the writing on the wall. After our recent tour we went round the National Aerospace Museum in the 'Hub' (or Q134 Building to me!). Very impressive, but the librarian told us most of the old RAE Library (including all the RAE Technical Reports) was 'dispersed' during the DRA/DERA era. The aerospace library is trying to recreate a collection of RAE Technical Reports, mainly from copies kept by BAE Systems, Universities etc!

That must have been a terrible time for those of you who had worked for the great RAE. As a local at that time and having been born in Farnborough the things that were happening at the time were shocking. I never worked there, but growing up in the area we all new people who did. The closest I got was taking part in an experiment as an eight or nine year old in the 60's along with my class. All the experiments were filmed and I managed to get a copy put onto video from cine in the early 90's when it was the DRA - I think!!
The National Aerospace Museum sounds impressive. There were all kinds of stories at the DRA/DERA era of items of historic importance being dumped in skips!!! A great shame. It will always be remembered as the great RAE to me and many others I am sure.

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Noticed on Airshow Saturday morning Red Arrows pilots visiting the wind tunnels MB