Over 60 years, AEDC wind tunnels have seen a wide variety of work

A Lockheed martin engineer inspects a model of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II during a break in aerodynamics load testing in AEDC's 16-foot transonic wind tunnel in 2006. (file photo)

Test before flight

An F135-PW-100 engine undergoes ground testing in AEDC’s J-2 test cell to evaluate the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter’s power plant for upcoming flight testing. (Photo by Rick Goodfriend)

AEDC engineers played vital role in F-35 initial flight

A 12-percent model of the Short Take-Off and Landing version of the F-35 Lightning II is undergoing aerodynamic loads testing in AEDC’s 16-foot transonic wind tunnel.

AEDC engineers played vital role in F-35 initial flight

Tim Wright, an Aerospace Testing Alliance craftsman at Arnold Engineering Development Center at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., examines the Short Take-off and Landing F-35 model in AEDC’s 16-foot transonic wind tunnel. The information from this testing, the final entry in a recent series of tests, will go into a large database to refine and validate the aircraft designs for flight testing and ultimately, production of the CTOL and STOVL F-35 variants.

Inspecting Gadgets Before Test

Jody Nunley, an ATK-GASL, Inc., craftsman, inspects a 12 percent scale model of the Navy’s version of the F-35 Lightning II at AEDC’s 16-foot transonic wind tunnel.

F-35 Lightling II Joint Strike Fighter initial flight

Tim Wright examines an F-35 LIghtning II Joint Strike Fighter model in the Arnold Engineering Development Center's 16-foot transonic wind tunnel at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. The information from testing will go into a database to refine and validate the aircraft designs for flight testing. (U.S. Air Force photo/David Housch)