The Aircraft Research Association (ARA) is an aerodynamics research institute in the north-west of Bedford.
| Aircraft Research Association | |
|---|---|
ARA Bedford | |
  Location within Bedfordshire | |
| General information | |
| Type | Engineering research centre |
| Architectural style | Wind tunnel |
| Address | Bedford, MK41 7PF |
| Coordinates | 52°09′22″N 0°28′26″W / 52.156°N 0.474°W |
| Elevation | 70 m (230 ft) |
| Current tenants | ARA |
| Construction started | September 1953 |
| Completed | April 1956 |
| Inaugurated | 4 May 1956 |
| Client | ARA |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Ley Colbeck and Partners |
History
editThe association was founded on 22 January 1952.[1] 14 main British aviation companies funded £1.25m to build a large wind tunnel.
It was first proposed in 1953 to build the site at Stevington, north-east of Bedford.[2] By March 1953, the current site was chosen.
Construction
editWork started on Monday 7 September 1953.[3]
The wind tunnel was fabricated by Moreland Hayne of east London.[4]
The transonic tunnel first ran in April 1956. [5]
Visits
editThe Duke of Edinburgh visited on the morning of Friday 4 May 1956. He had been planning to land by helicopter in the south-east of Bedford, and to be driven from there to the site by car, but weather conditions were unsuitable.[6]
Structure
editThe site has the largest transonic wind tunnel in the UK, known as the TWT, with speeds up to Mach 1.4, powered by a Sulzer axial compressor. It is 25,000 hp electric-powered.
Wind tunnels
edit- Supersonic tunnel, Mach 1.4 - 3.5, built in 1958
Two hypersonic tunnels
- Mach 4-5 tunnel, built in 1965
- Mach 7 tunnel, built in 1968
Research
editProjects worked on include Concorde, the Harrier and most Airbus aircraft.[7] The Rolls-Royce RB211 was tested there.[8]
The site now works with RUAG of Switzerland.
See also
edit- Aerospace Technology Institute, in Bedfordshire, launched in 2012 by the government as the UK Aerodynamics Centre
- British Hydromechanics Research Association (BHRA), also in Bedfordshire
- UK Aerospace Research Consortium (UK-ARC), formed in 2018, an alliance of university departments
- List of wind tunnels
References
edit- ^ Companies House
- ^ Bedfordshire Times and Independent Friday 27 February 1953, page 7
- ^ Bedfordshire Times and Independent Friday 11 September 1953, page 7
- ^ Times Monday 4 January 1954, page 3
- ^ Times Tuesday 1 September 1959, page 22
- ^ Times Saturday 5 May 1956, page 8
- ^ Airbus wing development February 2002
- ^ Derby Evening Telegraph Thursday 18 August 1988, page 48