Rare Glimpse Inside Europe's Enormous Wind Tunnels

Meera Dolasia
2011-02-09T10:34:13-08:00

The key to an aircraft's supersonic speed or fuel efficiency, is its aerodynamics or how smoothly the wind flows over its wings and around its body. However, what may look super-efficient on computer models, may not work so well in real life. Therefore, before any new aircraft takes to the skies, manufacturers usually test prototypes or even the real aircraft, inside giant man-made wind tunnels.