NASA has inaugurated the Flight Dynamics Research Facility (FDRF), its first major wind tunnel built in over 40 years. This new facility, located at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, will take over from two historic tunnels: the 12-Foot Low-Speed Tunnel and the 20-Foot Vertical Spin Tunnel, which have been operational for decades and have significantly contributed to aviation development.

The Langley Research Center boasts a century-long history in aerodynamic research using wind tunnels, being fundamental in shaping the future of flight. The FDRF represents a modernization of these capabilities, allowing NASA engineers and scientists to continue advancing the study of flight dynamics and aerodynamics for next-generation aircraft.