Aircraft Research Association

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
TypeEngineering research centre
Architectural styleWind tunnel
AddressBedford, MK41 7PF
Coordinates52.156°N 0.474°W / 52.156; -0.474
Elevation70 m (230 ft)
Current tenantsARA
Construction startedSeptember 1953
CompletedApril 1956
Inaugurated4 May 1956
ClientARA
Design and construction
ArchitectLey Colbeck and Partners

History

The 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

Work 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

The 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

The 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
  • 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

Projects 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

References
  1. Companies House
  2. Bedfordshire Times and Independent Friday 27 February 1953, page 7
  3. Bedfordshire Times and Independent Friday 11 September 1953, page 7
  4. Times Monday 4 January 1954, page 3
  5. Times Tuesday 1 September 1959, page 22
  6. Times Saturday 5 May 1956, page 8
  7. Airbus wing development February 2002
  8. Derby Evening Telegraph Thursday 18 August 1988, page 48
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