NACA 12-Ft. Low Speed Tunnel / Free Flight Tunnel test models

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Years ago, when NASA started sharing its archives online, I spent a lot of time indexing the photos of the various models tested in wind tunnels.
I only saved a few of them, thinking that the images were online to stay... only to discover later on that none of the links I had saved to the collection was working anymore...

Here is a simplified version of an index I made of the models tested by NACA and NASA in its 12-Foot Low Speed Tunnel (Facility #644), with a few of them tested in the 5-Foot Free-Flight Tunnel (Facility #646). Created in 1939, this tunnel was also called the 12-Foot Free-Flight Tunnel for a while, and is still extant to this day. If you see any mistake, or if you can add information, please say so!

Part 1: Models 1 to 44

model #	aircraft type	dates	photo references	comments
(no number)	Luscombe	1937	13326/13327
Model 1	North American BT-9A	1937-38	13473/74, 13665,13667/68, 15360/61
Model 2	Brewster XF2A-1	1939	16810/14, 17284/87
Model 3	?
Model 4	Vought-Sikorsky Zimmerman V-173 (F5U-1)	1940-41	22278/79, 22825/26
Model 5	?
Model 6	Curtiss P-36A	1940-41	19608,19610/11, 22940/42	+ 18334 photo of real airplane
Model 7	Naval Aircraft Factory SBN-1	1940	19327/30, 21002/03, 22490/94	misidentified as "Northrop N1M"
Model 8	Vought-Sikorsky XF4U-1	1940-41	20073/78, 22026,28.1 (+1), 22827/28, 22846
Model 9	?
Model 10	(unknown)			"Tailless Glider"
Model 11	Seversky P-41 / Republic XP-41	1940-43	22194/98, 22824, 25159/63, LMAL 28383/85, LMAL 31777/83	"Effect of fuselage Length and Vertical Tail Size and Aspect Ratio" (1/10th scale model)
Model 12	?
Model 13	NACA J-3	1940	22321/23	"NACA Laminar Flow Airplane (J-3)"; "The model used in the investigation was the 1/15-scale model previously tested in the spin tunnel."
Model 14	Northrop N-1M	1940	22313/16, 22488/89
Model 15	Materiel Center tailless glider No. 364	1941	22982/83, 22993/94
Model 16	?
Model 17	Northrop XP-56		23103, 25107, 25518	1/12th scale model
Model 18	Naval Aircraft Factory SBN-1			"Duplex Flaps"; "A 1/12-scale model of the SBN-1 airplane previously tested in lthe free-flight tunnel was used for the full-span flap investigation."
Model 19	?
Model 20	North American XB-28	1942	LMAL 27624/27, 28386	"Effect of Mode of Propeller Rotation and Vertical Tail Size on the Lateral Stability of a Twin-Engine Airplane"; "A 1/20-scale model of the North American XB-28 was used for the tests."
Model 20-5	North American XB-28	1944	LMAL 36668/69
Model 21	Curtiss-Wright 24-B		LMAL 26185/87
Model 22	Northrop N-6	1942	LMAL 28190/94
Model 23	?
Model 24	National Bureau of Standards (NDRC) Controlled Glide Bomb	1942	LMAL 27271/74
Model 25	Grumman F4F-3		LMAL 28996 known	"Wing Loading Investigation"
Model 26	Grumman F4F-3			"Wing Loading Investigation"; identical to Model 25 in structure and dimensions, "the only difference being in the materials used."
Model 27	(unknown)	1943	(4 pics, no numbers)	"Stability of a Glider Towed by Twin Parallel Towlines"
Model 28	Bell XP-63	1942	LMAL 29469, 29531,29533, 29996/97, 31311/13
" " "	Bell P-63/XP-63 (V-Tail)	1943	LMAL 32923, 33230/33, 33862/63, 34137/42, 34827/28
Model 29	Fairchild 22 (XR2K-1)	1943-44	LMAL 30014/18*, 31774, 31927, 35984, 36875/36877 (+2),	"Rudder-Free Stability"; 1/7-scale model; falsely identified as "XC-82" (probably XC-8)
Model 30	Northrop N-6	1942	LMAL 30248/51, 31773, 31928	"Effects Of Mass Distribution On Lateral Stability"; "The 1/10-scale model of the Northrop Project-6 airplane which had been used in a previous investigation of that design was used, with the propellers removed."
Model 31	Bell XP-59	1943	LMAL 32730/33, 33883/88, 35807/08	"Tests of a Twin-Boom Pusher"
Model 32-I	(unknown)	1943	LMAL 34124/34126	"Straight-Wing Tailless Fighter"; pusher design misidentified as "Model 321"
Model 32	(unknown)	1943	LMAL 34606 (+ 1946 file card)
?	(Towed Glider Model)	1943	LMAL 32728/32729 (+2)
?	(unknown)	1943	LMAL 33717/33724	Model in Tunnel (Publicity)
Model 33	(unknown glider)	1943	(drawing arrangement)	"Longitudinal Steadiness"
Model 34	(unknown)		(no images)	"Flaps for Tailless Airplanes"
Model 35	Northrop N-9M	1943	LMAL 34602/05, 34608, 35990/92	"Tailless Bomber"
Model 36	Kaiser Cargo Wing	1943-44	LMAL 34048/51, 34053, 34213/15, 35844/47, 36307/09, 36524/27*	* "Tailless Model (V6)"; 1/60-scale model
Model 37	(Glide Bomb)	1943-44	LMAL 35179/80, 35358/60, 37031/36	"Effect of Lift Coefficient on Lateral Stability"
Model 38	(unknown)		(no images)	"CLMax Investigation"
?	(Motor and Bracket)	1944	LMAL 36910/13
Model 39	(FFT Model)	1944	LMAL 37040/45, 37067/68, 39278/79	"Differential Flaps"
Model 40	Consolidated Tailless (FFT Model)	1944	LMAL 36268/69, 36286/89, 36459/62*, 36720/24**, 37486/89, 37565/67°, 37584/95	* Model 40-3 ** also appears in LMAL 46747 ° "Modified Tailless Airplane"
Model 40-A-2	Consolidated Tailless	1944	LMAL 38720/38726
Model 41	Aeronca GB-5	1943	LMAL 35803/06	1/5-scale model
Model 42	Aeronca GB-5 ?	1944	LMAL 37834/36, 39445/48, 37837, 39514, 39516	1/4-scale model
Model 43	Bell TP-39 Airacobra	1944	LMAL 40948/49, 40954/56
Model 44	Aeronca GB-7B	1944	LMAL 38460/64	1/5-scale model

 

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Part 2: Models 45 to 64

model #	aircraft type	dates	photo references	comments
Model 45	(unknown)	1945	LMAL 43271/75, 39171/72
Model 46	(unknown)	1944	LMAL 39449/52, 39500/06, 40063/66
Model 46Y	(unknown)	1946	LMAL 47279/80
Model 46 V	(unknown)	1946	LMAL 47432/34
Model 47	?
Model 48	(unknown)	1944	LMAL 39006/10, 39154/56
Model 49 ?	McDonnell LBD-1	1944	LMAL 41693/98	Jet Prop Bomb
Model 50-A	(unknown)	1945	LMAL 42698/705
Model 50-B		1944-45	LMAL 41751/58, 42199/201 (+1)
Model 51	?
Model 52	?
Model 53	(unknown)	1944-45	LMAL 41184/88, 41546, 41856/60*, 42261/62	"FFT Model"; * Modified Model
Model 54	(unknown)	1945	LMAL 43323/28
Model 54A	(Glider)	1945	LMAL 44754/60
Model 55 ?	B-29A Model	1945	LMAL 45812/15
Model 56	(unknown)	1947	LMAL 51415/51424	"FFT Model"; mistake for Model 46?
Model 57	(unknown)	1945	LMAL 43032/39, 44761/65
Model 57-A	(unknown)	1945	LMAL 43740, 43744/45, 43747/48, 43750, 43753, 45381
Model 57-AN	(Booster)	1945	LMAL 45288/93
Model 58	Material Control Dept. Project MCD 387A	1945	LMAL 45249/54, 46746*, 46900/02*	* publicity photos
Model 59	Lockheed XP-80	1945	LMAL 43508/14
Model 60	(unknown)	1945	LMAL 43741/43, 43746, 43749, 43751/52
Model 61	Cornelius XFG-1	1945	LMAL 38848, 38850/55, 43283/88
Model 62	(unknown)	1945	LMAL 44748/53, 45115/19
Model 63	(unknown)	1945, 1948	LMAL 45361/66, 55316/19	"FFT Model"
Model 64	(unknown)	1946	LMAL 47140 (+2)

NOTE: Model 61 was the Cornelius XFG-1, and NOT the Convair XA-44 as previously stated.

 

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Part 3: Model 65 to 88

Model 65	(unknown)	1946	LMAL 47612/17
?	(unknown)	1947	LMAL 51352/53	misidentifed as "Model 66-9"
Model 66-9	(unknown)	1947	LMAL 51354/58, 52968*	* conflictual designation
Model 68 A	(unknown)	1948	LMAL 58741/44	FFT model"
Model 69	McDonnell XF-85	1946-47	LMAL 49046/47*, 49049*, 51901/07	* "FFT Model"
?	(unknown)	1946	LMAL 49044/45
Model 71	(unknown)	1946	LMAL 47453/56
?	(unknown)	1946	LMAL 49935/46
Model 72	McDonnell XP-88	1947	LMAL 52226/35	also appears in LMAL 53087/89 (21 May 47)
Model 73	Vought XF7U-1	1947	LMAL 52456/61, 54215/17	misidentifed as "XF74-1"
Model 74	Convair XB-53	1947	LMAL 51512/14, 51516	"FFT Model"
Model 75	Convair XF-92	1947	LMAL 52249/53*, LAL 58731/32**, 59329/34	* "Model P-92" ** Model 75-C "FFT Model"
Model 76	?
Model 77	(unknown)	1948	LMAL 56034/36
Model 78	NRC "Wing"	1947	LMAL 55146/50	"FFT Model"
Model 79	(unknown)	1947	LMAL 54480, 54482/85	"FF Model"
Model 80	?
Model 81	?
Model 82	(unknown)	1948	LMAL 56023/28
Model 83-B	Piasecki XHJP-1	1949	LAL 61319/21
Model 84	?
Model 85	?
Model 86	(unknown)	1948	LAL 58724/25	"FFT Model"
Model 86T	(unknown)	1950	LAL 68228/31
Model 87	(unknown)	1948	LMAL 56029/33
Model 88	(unknown)	1948-50	LAL 58737/38, 58740, LAL 66733/38

 

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Part 4: Models 89 to 120

model #	aircraft type	dates	photo references	comments
Model 89	(unknown)	1948	LAL 58726/30	"FFT Model"
Model 90	?
Model 91	?
Model 92	?
Model 93	(unknown)	1949	LAL 61904/09, 62371/75	"FFT Model"
Model 94	(unknown)	1949	LAL 62769/73	L-62769.1 also exists (4 Dec 1952)
Model 95	(unknown)	1949	LAL 62780/84
Model 96	(Boundary Layer Control)	1949	LAL 59574/76	also LAL 59576.1 with captions (4 May 1949)
Model 97	(Flare Model)	1950	L-64-4897/98
Model 98	McDonnell XF3H-1	1950	LAL 64228/33, 64235/38
Model 99	(unknown)	1949	LAL 62354/57	"FFT Model"
Model 100	?
Model 101	(unknown)	1950	LAL 64458/62
Model 102	(unknown)	1950	LAL 66376/80
Model 103	Douglas XF4D-1	1950	LAL 67250/51
Model 104	(unknown)	1950	LAL 67252/55
Model 105	?
Model 106	?
Model 107	?
Model 108	Convair XFY-1	1951	LAL 70858/60, 71736/42	"FFT Model"
Model 108A	Convair XFY-1	1951	LAL 72576/81	"FFT Model"
Model 108_?	Convair XFY-1	1954	LAL 83389/90, 83392/94	Modified Model 108F
Model 109	?
Model 110	(unknown)	1952	LAL 75590/91*, 76001/04**, 78096/105	* "FFT Model" ** "Cascade Model"
?	Venetian Blind Vertical Rising	1953	LAL-79763/68
Model 111	?
Model 112	(unknown)	1952	LAL 73838, 73840, 75416, 75418/19
Model 113,-0,-5	(Vertical Rising Aircraft)	1953-54	LAL 82722/28, 83068/71, 83111 (+1), 84142/43
Model 114	?
Model 115	?
Model 116	?
Model 117	?
Model 118	?
Model 119	Convair YF-102	1952	LAL 77844/48
Model 119A	Convair F-102A	1954	LAL 83395/99, 83865/67, 84119/27, 84542/44*	"Modified Model 119" * "Static Force Test"
Model 119_?	Convair F-102A	1955	LAL 82880/81°	"Model Mounted"
Model 120	Lockheed XFV-1	?	LAL 82882/91	"Free Flight"

 

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Part 5: Models 121 to 149

model #	aircraft type	dates	photo references	comments
Model 121	(unknown)	1954-56	LAL 85356/57, 85360/62, 85364, 87481/83, 87485/88, 93382/88, 93651/58	described as "Model 110-T" but not related to Model 110 some at Facility #646
Model 122	(unknown)	1954	LAL 85365/69, 87189/93*	"Free Flight" * at Facility #643
Model 123	?
Model 124	(unknown)	1955	LAL 89869/71
Model 125	?
Model 126	?
Model 127	?
?	Vought XF8U-1	1955	LAL 89763/64
?	Ryan X-13	1955	LAL 89769/70, 89772/73
Model 128	(unknown)	1958	LAL 58-3489	"FFT Model"
Model 129	?
Model 130	?
?	(Rocket Motors)	1956	LLA 94252/58
Model 131	?
Model 132	?
?	(Jet Flap Model)	1956	LAL 96529/39
Model 133	?
Model 134	(Deflected Jet)	1957	LAL 57-1670/75	at Facility #643
Model 135	Convair XB-58	1956	LAL 94433/41	"FF Model"
Model 136	?
Model 137	?
Model 138	(unknown)	1957	LAL 57-4924/32	"FFT Model"
Model 139	(unknown)	1956	LAL 93206/10, 93212/14	"FFT Model"
Model 139-C	(unknown)	1959	(unknown)	Flight, 13 Nov 1959
Model 140	?
Model 141	(unknown)	1956	LAL 95223/31
Model 141P	North American X-15	1957	LAL 57-5543/48	"FFT Model"
Model 142	Vertol VZ-2	1956	LAL-94785/90	all at Facility #646
Model 142A	Vertol VZ-2	1960-61	L-60-4715/22, 5430/32*, L-61-1108/11**	* "Vertol Setup" ** "Vertol Flow Pattern"
Model 142C	Vertol VZ-2	1961	L-61-3168/75
Model 143	(unknown)	1958	LAL 58-3563/68	"FFT Model", at Facility #643
Model 144	(unknown) (FFT Model) (Model R7D577) (Model R7D579) (Model R7D576)	1957	LAL 57-1809/14, 1816 LAL 57-4831/35 LAL 57-4838/43 LAL 57-4844/50
Model 145	?
Model 146	(Flying Jeep model)	1958	LAL 58-2173/74, 2177/78
Model 146-4		1958	L-58-431a,-433a/434a	"FFT Model", at Facility #643
Model 146-U	(unknown)	1959	L-59-3426, 3428, 3430/33
Model 147	?
Model 148	(unknown)	1958	LAL 58-3950/53, 3955/57	"FFT Model"
Model 149	(unknown)	1959	L-59-1798/1800

 

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Part 6: later models

Once NACA becomes NASA, it becomes more difficult to track down model numbers. I've purposely stopped the list here at 1963, although I have collected info up to 1989, because there are many gaps.

model #	aircraft type	dates	photo references	comments
?	(unknown)	1959	L-59-481/84	"Scale Capsule in FFT"
?	(unknown)	1959	L-59-655/58
Model 153	(unknown)	1959	L-59-1965/68,1970
Model 154	(DynaSoar)	1958	LAL 58-4194/99	Simplified NACA model
154-B3W5V5	(DynaSoar)	1958	L-58-991a/996a
Model 154	DynaSoar HSC Model	1959	L-59-1523/26,-1528/32, L-59-1790/97
?	(unknown)	1959	L-59-3177/85	"Capsule Model in FFT"
?	(unknown)	1959	L-59-4684/87	"FFT Capsule Model"
?	"Little Joe"	1959	L-59-4103/06
?	"Scooter"	1959	L-59-6598/6603
Model 166-5 ?	(unknown)	1959	L-59-7195/7205	misidentified as "Model 1665"
Model 171	Hawker P.1127	1960	L-60-1789/92
Model 172	(unknown)	1960	L-60-546/53, -3117,-3119	"RVD" / "Space Ferry"
Model 173	(unknown)	1961	L-61-2683/86	VTOL
Model 176	(unknown)	1960	L-60-3121/22	"RVD"
Model 177	Hawker XV-6A	1960	L-60-1139/45
?	(unknown)	1960	L-60-3801/04	"Force test model in FFT"
?	(unknown)	1960-61	L-60-6095/98 L-61-2029/2032	"Wings in Ground Effect"
?	(unknown)	1961	L-61-1112/30	"Flexible Wing Research Model"
?	Republic TFX	1961	L-61-5420/31	"FFT Jet VTOL Model"
Model 192	(unknown)	1962	L-62-2446/54, L-62-9196/99	"VTOL Model"
Model 195	(unknown)	1961	L-61-4441/45	"RVD (Lenticular Reentry Vehicle)"
?	(unknown)	1961	L-61-7827/30	"Reentry Vehicle"
?	(unknown)	1962	L-62-2455/57	"Lenticular Reentry Vehicle"
?	(unknown)	1962	L-62-2474/75	"Inflatable recovery system"
?	(unknown)	1962	L-62-2476/79	"Two Propeller Flying Jeep"
?	(unknown)	1962	L-62-7412/13	"Capsule Model"
?	(unknown)	1962	L-62-7536/37	"Right Triangular Pyramid"
?	NASA HL-10 & HL-11	1962-63	L-62-8686,-8688/92, L-63-5465/71*	* HL-10 Reentry Model
?	Vertol VZ-2	1962	L-62-8835/36	VTOL Full and 1/4th Model
?	Ryan XV-5A	1962	L-62-9062/64, -9775, -9779/88	"Model Fan in Wing"
?	LTV-Hiller-Ryan C-142	1962	L-62-9665/67	"Tri Service VTOL Transport"
?	(unknown)	1963	L-63-3042/43, -3047,-3049/51	"Cruise Fan"
?	Ryan Flex-Wing	1963	L-63-3246/49	"1/3 Scale Model"