The history of pioneering Russian wind tunnels

What is it about?

The paper describes the origin of the first Russian wind tunnels developed by V.A. Pashkevich in 1871, K.E. Tsiolkovsky in 1897, prof. N.E. Zhukovsky in 1902, 1909 and 1910 and D.P. Ryabushinsky under the guidance of prof. N.E. Zhukovsky in Kuchino aerodynamic institute in 1904. These wind tunnels are shown diagrammatically and as photographs also presented in the paper are descriptions and sketches of Pashkevich three-component mechanical aerodynamic balance, Tsiolkovsky single-component balance as well as balances used by Zhukovsky in his aerodynamic experiments. Description of experimental investigations and some test results are also provided. The paper is written based on materials published by the wind tunnel designers at the boundary of the 19th and the 20th centuries.

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