National Wind Tunnel Facility
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The National Wind Tunnel Facility (NWTF), is an initiative in which 17 wind tunnels distributed across 12 UK universities (host institutions) are made open access (for up to 25% of time) to external researchers in the UK and abroad, from both university and industry based.[1][2][3]
NWTF is intended to be as inclusive as possible while still supporting the best science. The scheme was announced on 9 January 2014 by David Willetts, Minister for Science and Universities.[4] The total initial funding for the facility was £13.3 million, £10.7 million coming from EPSRC and £2.6 million from the UK Aerospace Technology Institute.[5]
The EPSRC and ATI decided to fund the NWTF in order to match the UK talent base to world-class wind tunnel facilities. The enhanced UK capability in experimental aerodynamics is available to all UK-based researchers. The stated aim was to create nodes of excellence attracting young researchers. Another aim was to establish a closer tie with industry, creating a pull-through environment and an intended spill-over of the collaboration and benefits to other sectors.[6]
The initial NWTF programme had a duration of five years, ending in 2018. As of 2026[update], this was most recently renewed in 2023.[2]
Wind tunnels available
As of March 2026[update] the NWTF consists of the following facilities:[7]
| Institution | Name | Designation |
|---|---|---|
| University of Birmingham | Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) | Open-circuit tunnel |
| TRAIN rig | Low Speed, Train rig | |
| University of Bristol | Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel | Boundary layer wind tunnel |
| Aeroacoustic | Low Speed, Aeroacoustic | |
| University of Cambridge | Transonic and Supersonic | Open return blow down; two identical facilities |
| City St George's, University of London | Transonic/Supersonic | Closed return, induction driven |
| Low Turbulence | Low Speed, closed return | |
| Cranfield University | 8ft x 6ft Low Speed | Closed return |
| Low Speed 8x4 Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel (LS3) | Low speed closed return | |
| Icing Tunnel | Open return | |
| Glasgow | deHavilland Low Speed Wind Tunnel | Low speed |
| Imperial College London | 10ft x 5ft Low Speed | Low speed, closed return |
| Supersonic | Intermittent hybrid blow-down / suck-down arrangement | |
| Hypersonic | Intermittent impulsive facility | |
| Loughborough University | Automotive | Open circuit, closed throat |
| University of Manchester | Human-Flow Interactions Wind Tunnel | Human-flow interaction wind tunnel |
| High Supersonic Tunnel (HSST) | Blow-down | |
| University of Oxford | T6 Piston Reflected Shock | Intermittent blowdown |
| Low Density Tunnel | Rarefied flow | |
| High Density Tunnel | Heated Ludweig tube | |
| University of Southampton | R J Mitchell Wind Tunnel | Closed return |
| Anechoic | Anechoic | |
| Towing Tank | Towing and wave tank | |
| University of Surrey | Environmental Flow (EnFlo) | Meteorological wind tunnel |
Governance
The NWTF has a management board that meets quarterly,[8] and an advisory board that meets twice a year. The advisory board is composed of representatives from EPSRC, ATI, senior academics (from the UK and abroad), user representatives, an existing national facility manager and a wind tunnel manager.[9]