NASA Ames Research Center is known internationally as a center of excellence for its capabilities and achievements in the field of developmental aerodynamics . The Center has a variety of aerodynamic test facilities including the largest wind tunnel in the world ( with 40 x 80 deg and 80 x 120 deg atmospheric test sections ) and the 12 - Foot Pressure Wind Tunnel which is the subject of this paper . Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract .