Scale Model of a Convair F‒106 Aircraft in the 8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel

A researcher checks a 22-percent scale model of a Convair F‒106 Delta Dart in the test section of the 8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lewis Research Center. Lewis acquired a Delta Dart fighter in 1966 to study the propulsion system design elements that could be applied to supersonic transport aircraft at transonic speeds. Two General Electric J85 engines were installed under its wings to study these designs. The aircraft’s original test plan was expanded to include the study of boattail drag, noise reduction, and inlets. Tests of a subscale F‒106 model were run in the 8- by 6-Foot tunnel to measure jet noise statically during November and December 1967. Two size models were used, a 5-percent and 22-percent scale, seen in this photograph. The 22-percent model was mounted on a reflection plate and included powered turbojet engine simulators, which can be seen underneath the wings. The wind tunnel data was used for comparison with the flight test results.