Wind Tunnels

Our 7’ x 5’ tunnel was one of the first in the UK to use a moving ground and was used extensively to develop the ground-effect era of cars of the late 60’s and 70’s.

The R. J. Mitchell wind tunnel was originally the Farnborough No. 2 tunnel and dates back to the 1920’s. It was donated to the University around 1980 before being moved and reinstated here at Southampton.

Technical Specifications

Wind Tunnel No. 2

  • Low speed section: 4.6m wide x 3.7m high x 3.7m long. 
  • Maximum wind speed: 10m/s. 
  • 6 component balance and turntable in tunnel floor. 
  • High speed section: 2.1m wide x 1.5m high x 4.4m long. 
  • Maximum wind speed: 50m/s. 
  • 3 component balance in tunnel roof. 
  • Moving ground belt: 1.0m wide x 2.1m long.
  • Maximum belt speed: 25m/s.

RJ Mitchell Wind Tunnel

  • Working section: 3.5m wide x 2.6m high X 10.5m long. 
  • Maximum wind speed: 45m/s. 
  • 6 component balance in tunnel roof and 4 component balance and turntable in tunnel floor. 
  • Atmospheric boundary layers can be simulated in the long working section. 
  • Moving ground belt: 2.4m wide x 4.8m long.  Maximum belt speed: 27m/s.

Small Wind Tunnel

  • Working section 0.9m wide x 0.6m high. 
  • Suitable for flow visualization. 
  • Maximum wind speed: 40m/s.


RJ Mitchell Wind Tunnel


RJ Mitchell Wind Tunnel