Vertical wind tunnel

A vertical wind tunnel (VWT ) is a wind tunnel, which, in contrast to a traditional wind tunnel for aerodynamic or aeroacoustic measurements, a vertical test section ( air chamber ) has. The first vertical wind tunnels were used as a so-called spin towers in the field of aerospace research. Today one uses vertical wind tunnel predominantly in the sports and leisure sector as a training equipment for skydivers. Starting from skydiving through the ongoing technical development of vertical wind tunnels since the 1960s, a new extreme sport, the so-called " body flying " or " indoor skydiving " has developed.

Vertical wind tunnels enable human flight without aids (aircraft, parachute) solely by the force of the air flow vertically generated. The air in a vertical wind tunnel reaches an average speed 180-200 km / h This corresponds to the average rate of fall of a human body in free fall in the prone position. Vertical wind tunnels are often referred to as " indoor skydiving ", " Bodyflying hall " or " free-fall simulator ".

Bodyflying

Bodyflying literally means " body flying" and stands for the art to move the human body in a controlled manner in the air. Originally from the skydiving coming, Bodyflying is a training opportunity for skydivers, but increasingly also for an independent extreme sport. Flying a human body in a vertical wind tunnel

In vertical wind tunnels, there is a flow rate of air equal to the free fall speed of the human body. Modern vertical wind tunnels can thereby adjust individually the air speed depending on the body weight of the Flying. When Bodyflying the human body is moved relative to the wind. By appropriate tightening of the body and the use of hands and feet as a rudder, the force of the airflow can be influenced, and the body to be moved in different directions. Basic figures of Bodyflying include the On - swaying back and forth, the sideways movement in all four horizontal axes, as well as right and left turns.

Vertical wind tunnel systems

Classic Vertical Wind Tunnel consist of one or more fans to generate the air flow, diffusers, for a possible uniform, non-turbulent flow, a nozzle to accelerate the flow of air and the actual flight chamber. The flow in the flight chamber here should be uniform, parallel, turbulence and low noise. There are two basic systems for vertical wind tunnel, which differ according to their air duct system:

• Closed vertical wind tunnel, which recirculate the air in an annular air baffle ( " recirculator " ), eg Indoor Skydiving Bottrop, Germany.
• Open vertical wind tunnel, which work on a suction and discharge principle ( " open- flow" ), eg SkyVenture Arizona Eloy, United States

In addition, also for free fall simulators that do not correspond to the classical construction of a vertical wind tunnel, the term established vertical wind tunnel, for example, Bodyflying - conditioning, Zürich, Switzerland.

Have closed vertical wind tunnel, an annular air duct (so-called Göttingen design). Here, the picked up by the diffuser according to the flight chamber air flow is fed back to the one or more blowers. Advantage of the closed system is the independence of wind and weather. The system can all year round in all weather conditions, in particular be operated independently of the outside temperatures. Furthermore convince closed systems usually by their significantly lower noise level and energy efficiency. The air flow in closed systems is turbulence-free than other freefall simulators. The first, closed vertical wind tunnel in continental Europe after Göttingen design was opened in April 2009 in Bottrop, Germany and provides parachutists and lay all year the way free from fear of heights to experience the feeling of free flight.

Open vertical wind tunnel have an open air ducting to both sides. In these systems air is drawn in from the surroundings passes through the flight chamber and is discharged into the open upper end of the channel. The open design, these systems are weather dependent. Wind, rain, extreme outdoor temperatures, as well as dust and dirt can affect flight operations, some require a temporary closure of the plant.

Other freefall simulators are usually from a network spanned propeller which produces a vertical, open to all sides vertical airflow. Since the absence of a closed air chamber is in these systems, the risk of falling or involuntary flying out from the air stream, the safety net is surrounded by a cushion edge. This form of " vertical wind tunnel " is to be found as stationary and portable equipment. Since the velocity of the air flow in these systems is lower than in traditional vertical wind tunnels, wearing long flight suits for added buoyancy is the rule. Furthermore, the air flow is turbulent due to lack of air circulation.

Security

Flying in a vertical wind tunnel is not dangerous and that even a person with a fear of heights, the feeling of free fall beyond a panning for skydivers to experience. In the vertical wind tunnel, the human body only a few centimeters to meters flies depending on ability over a secure safety net. The air velocity is adjusted to the individual skill of flying and usually varies between 180 to 200 km / h Beginners are briefed before their first flight by an experienced teacher in the basic concepts and positions of the body flying and accompanied on their first flights. Bodyflying is for curious people from four years.

History

The first vertical wind tunnels were designed and built in the thirties of the last century for the aerospace research. Even today, the building of the first Trudel towers in Berlin Adlershof district can be visited. The construction of the first vertical wind tunnel with sufficient airspeed for human flight began in the forties of the last century in the United States in the Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. The air flow was driven by a propeller with four blades and a diameter of 16 feet over a 1,000- hp electric motor. The flight chamber had a diameter of 12 feet and was used to study some spinning, especially leaderless, " lurching " airplanes and parachutes. 1964 ventured a skydiver and former employees of the Apollo program, the first human flight in the vertical wind tunnel. In the early seventies of the last century the precision freefall team of U.S. forces, "The Golden Knights " began to train regularly at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

In 1979 the first patent for a freefall simulator, which does not correspond to the classical design of a vertical wind tunnel, by Jean St. Germain, filed in Canada. The patent is on " levitationarium for air flotation of humans". The first commercial freefall simulator opened in 1982 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The increased construction of classical open and closed vertical wind tunnel systems for a wide audience began only in the late 1990s with the opening of an open -flow vertical wind tunnel in Orlando, USA, 1998. Since then around 20 classic vertical wind tunnels were opened for recreational sports world. The highest is 17 meters flight chamber world was built in 2008/2009 and opened in April 2009 in Bottrop, Germany.