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Joby Starts Testing eVTOL Propeller in World’s Largest Wind Tunnel Facility
Joby Aviation has begun wind tunnel testing with one of its eVTOL aircraft propellers in the National Full-Scale Aerodynamic Complex at NASA's Ames Research Center in California.
A Joby propeller is pictured inside a wind tunnel at the National Full-Scale Aerodynamic Complex at NASA’s Ames Research Center.
A Joby propeller is pictured inside a wind tunnel at the National Full-Scale Aerodynamic Complex at NASA’s Ames Research Center. (Photo: Joby Aviation)

Joby Aviation has begun wind tunnel testing with one of its eVTOL aircraft propellers at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, the company announced on Thursday. The tests are taking place inside the National Full-Scale Aerodynamic Complex (NFAC), which is the world’s largest wind tunnel facility.

The NFAC is managed by the U.S. Air Force’s Arnold Engineering Development Complex and contains two of the largest operational wind tunnels in the world. These wind tunnels have been used to test the aerodynamic performance of a variety of aircraft, such as the V-22 Osprey, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and even NASA’s space shuttles. 

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