The Walter H. Beech Wind Tunnel provides commercial companies, government agencies,
and educational institutions with the facilities, equipment and research staff to
meet their aerodynamic testing and research needs.
The Beech Wind Tunnel is an atmospheric, return type, closed-throat, subsonic wind
tunnel with a test section 7 feet high, 10 feet wide and 12 feet long. Air speeds
in the test section can reach in excess of 230 mph.
A dual circuit, closed loop, liquid-filled heat exchanger is used to limit temperature
rise in the tunnel and permits full speed operation all day long, seven days a week.
Flow conditioning elements including a precise honeycomb structure and spring-tensioned
screen installed in the stilling chamber straighten and smooth out the airflow in
the test section. The test section is predominantly glass-paned for optical access
allowing virtually all flow visualization techniques and positions.
The Beech Wind Tunnel offers a full range of low speed wind tunnel testing services
at a flat user occupancy hourly rate. Wind tunnel testing is available using our state
of the art external underfloor balance or sting system and library of internal balances.
Also available are equipment ranging from electronic pressure measuring equipment
to flow visualization techniques captured by digital video. Photography is also available
for use at no additional charge. A very flexible digital system for test planning
and communication is available and our data reduction software may be modified nearly
real time.
The charge for using the facility is based upon the test section user occupancy hour.
No charges are made for using the model preparation room for unloading and loading
of wind tunnel models from their shipping containers by the clients. The Beech Wind
Tunnel is an ideal production tunnel for many air and ground vehicles. High run rates,
data repeatability, and an attentive crew are just some of our core strengths. The
wind tunnel laboratory is US ITAR and CUI compliant.
Type: Subsonic (M ≤ 0.3), Closed Return, Atmospheric, Closed Test Section with Active
Heat Exchange
Test Section: 7 x 10 x 12 feet
Performance (Empty Test Section):
Dynamic Pressure: ~ 125 psf
Reynold's Number/ft: ~2.0M
Speed: ~ 235 mph/204 KTAS
Max Demonstrated Temp: ~ 95 °F (continuous)
Two different designs of 2.0 inch internal balances from Triumph (Calspan) Force Measurement
Systems and Aerotech ATE are available for full model testing. Both balance designs
have the following load range capabilities: 
The MC-30-2.00-E Balance also has a lower range calibration for increased accuracy
and resolution at lower load ranges. The load range for this calibration is:
A Task MK17-B 1" diameter internal balance is available as well. This balance has
the following load ranges:
A Task MK-39A 3/4 inch is also available for smaller models. This balance has the
following load ranges:
The Beech Wind Tunnel has a robotic sting system to position an internal balance mounted
model to the following angles:
Several stings are available that interface with the Beech Wind Tunnel's internal
balances. Balance and stings from other companies and facilities may also be used.
The Beech Wind Tunnel has at its core an Aerotech ATE truncated prism, pyramidal type,
virtual center external underfloor balance. The external balance has the following
load range capabilities:
The balance can rotate in yaw angle from +210° to -150° and offers robotic mounting
hardware that is able to position a model in pitch from -45° to +45°, depending upon
the model installation and mounting hardware.
The balance also has an on-board load checking system that allows for health and fouling
checking of the mounting system while a model is installed in the wind tunnel. This
system is useful for checking the quality of measured loads while a model is installed
and after experiencing heavy loading.
The Beech Wind Tunnel has two main mounting arrangements for the external balance. The single point mount attaches to the balance platform and attaches to the model from underneath. This system has the ability to pitch the model from -45° to +45° incidence. Yaw motion range is only limited by model length and external balance rotation limits. In addition, an image system is available for determining tare loads and interference effects.
Also available is a traditional three-point mounting setup for aircraft. This system
has pylons that attach to outboard wing panels and a robotic pitch strut that sets
and maintains model incidence. Incidence range is based on model geometry. An image
system is also available for this mounting setup.
The three-point mount has the ability to pitch and yaw a wind tunnel model to the
following ranges using the model constraints outlined below: 
In addition to the aircraft mounting setups mentioned above, the Beech Wind Tunnel
is capable of testing some ground vehicles and many other objects as well. Please
contact the Beech Wind Tunnel Staff for more information.
The Beech Wind Tunnel has four (4) Scanivalve MPS 4264 Miniature Pressure Scanners,
each with sixty-four (64) channels of precision pressure measurement for customer
use. 
Two pressure ranges are available for measurement, ± 1 PSID and ± 5 PSID, each with
128 total channels. These scanners are small enough to be installed inside a model,
yet easily positioned underneath the model for external balance testing.
In addition, two sixteen (16) channel Scanivalve DSA 3217 electronic pressure scanners
are available for use. One has a ± 1 PSID range and one has a ± 10 PSID range. 
A total of 288 model pressures may be measured with this new system, with room for
expansion provided sufficient lead time.
Several single and multi-hole probes are available for use for flow field investigations.
The Beech Wind Tunnel has the following AC power options available for DC power supplies or other instrumentation needs:
250VAC 20A 1Ph (NEMA L6-20)
250VAC 50A 1Ph (NEMA 10-50 Angle)
250VAC 30A 3Ph (NEMA L15-20)
480VAC 30A 3Ph (NEMA L16-30)
480VAC 50A 3Ph (hardwire)
Please contact the Beech Wind Tunnel Staff for additional information.
Several flow visualization techniques are available for investigation at the Beech Wind Tunnel. These techniques include:
- Yarn and String Tufts
- Microtufts
- China Clay/kerosene
- Oil Flow
- Fluorescent Oil Flow
- Acenaphthylene/Acetone (for transition studies)
- Smoke Flow
- Reverse Engineering
The NIAR Reverse Engineering Lab is available for scanning of wind tunnel models and components. The Reverse Engineering lab is also part of the Additive Manufacturing Lab that can 3D print parts and components of wind tunnel models with short lead times and competitive prices. - Advanced Machining & Prototyping
The NIAR Advanced Machining & Prototyping is available to manufacture or modify wind tunnel models. The shop has a very talented staff with several CNC machines and one CNC lathe, as well as manual machines and other equipment. The shop specializes in precision 'one-off' parts like wind tunnel model parts.
The Beech Wind Tunnel charges customers based upon the User Occupancy Hour (UOH). For FY23 (starting 1 July 2022), the standard rate is $870/UOH for commercial and industry customers. This rate is all inclusive of mounting setup, installation of the model into the test section, wind-on operations, and uninstallation after the test. There are no separate or additional rates for additional instrumentation use.
For Federally funded programs, please contact the Beech Wind Tunnel staff for those UOH rates.
Minimum Occupancy is eight (8) UOH.