Wind Tunnels
We’ve got tunnels for cars, trains, and pedestrians, but
what about tunnels for wind? Aerodynamics is a field of science that
studies the flow of air or gases around an object in motion. Wind tunnels are used to test the
aerodynamics of anything from car windshields to entire planes. The first wind tunnel debuted in 1871, and
was the work of Frank H. Wenham and the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain. Since then, wind tunnels have evolved to
include supersonic tunnels that generate winds faster than the speed of sound
(768mph or 1,235.9 kph), and hypersonic tunnels that blast wind at 3,800mph to
11,400mph (6,115.5 kph to 18, 346.5 kph).
Engineers can adjust temperature and humidity as well as wind
speed. There are even recreational wind
tunnels, used for indoor skydiving. Find
one near you today and use a tunnel to experience human flight.