WE FREEZE TO PLEASE: A HISTORY OF NASA'S ICING RESEARCH TUNNEL AND THE QUEST FOR FLIGHT SAFETY

The formation of ice on wings and other control surfaces of airplanes is one of the oldest and most vexing problems that aircraft engineers and scientists continue to face. While no easy, comprehensive answers exist, the staff at NASA's Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) at the Glen Research Center in Cleveland has done pioneering work to make flight safer for experimental, commercial, and military customers. The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) initiated government research on aircraft icing in the 1930s at its Langley facility. The report reviews the work of IRT throughout the years. Despite many research dead-ends, the IRT researchers have achieved great success. They have developed important computer models and made significant contributions to prevent ice buildup on turbine powered commercial aircraft, helicopters, and military planes.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  600 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20546
• Authors:
  • Leary, W M
• Publication Date: 2002

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 221 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aviation safety; Ice formations; Icing
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00934259
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: NAS 1.21:4226,, NASA/SP-2002-4226,, LC-2002-025511
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 6 2002 12:00AM