NASA Glenn began investigating engine noise on aircraft shortly after the Korean War.
During the Korean War, the U.S. Air Force used Lockheed F-94B Starfires to escort bombers on long distance missions. After the war, NASA Lewis (now Glenn) acquired the aircraft to support engine noise research during the period when the first commercial jet airliners were emerging.
The F-94 was used to record aerodynamic noise at high speeds and altitudes. Microphones near the aircraft’s nozzle and on the wings were wired to the audio recording equipment in the nose.
Photo credit: NASA