Latest News & Insights

Thank you to Cranfield University for hosting a one-day training workshop focused on photonic sensors and instrumentation for wind tunnel applications. Delivered by Prof Ralph Tatam, Prof Simon Prince , Dr James Barrington and Prof Steve James, the workshop provided an in-depth introduction to optical fibre sensing technologies… read more

Thank you to the University of Bristol for hosting and leading the programme for the NWTF Propeller Forum 2025. We’d also like to thank everyone who took part and contributed to making the event a success. This one-day forum offered a valuable opportunity for PhD students, postdocs, early-career… read more

The NWTF is keen to encourage the use of National Wind Tunnel Facilities through the Free Access Scheme. This is available to Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and includes travel and subsistence costs. The aim of this initiative is to allow researchers to test out ideas quickly and easily… read more

Thank you to everyone who took part in the NWTF Conference at the University of Birmingham on the 2nd and 3rd April. Downloadable presentations are highlighted on the programme below. Day 1: 2nd April 2025 Session   Presenter / Topic About the NWTF   Jonathan Morrison, Imperial College… read more

Photography: Nicola Gotts

Over 100 delegates attended the NWTF Conference 2025 in Birmingham. The programme featured 41 presentations; including 6 keynote speakers and 21 oral abstracts. Along with poster sessions and networking opportunities throughout the event. Thank you to all the speakers, delegates and our sponsors ATE, Evolution Measurement, Hyve Dynamics… read more

The NWTF Conference 2025 is taking place from 2nd – 3rd April at The Exchange, Birmingham. Keynote speakers include Benjamin Leclaire – ONERA, Carsten Lenfers – DNW, Christopher Sheaf – Rolls-Royce, Adrian Gaylard – JLR, Matt McGilvray – University of Oxford and Isabella Fumarola – Imperial College. The… read more

New metadata for pitching aerofoil with pulsed air jets as a flow control technique, donated by Prof. Simon Prince (Cranfield University), Dr. Richard Green (University of Glasgow), and colleagues is available on the NWTF Experimental Database. This dataset explores the effectiveness of Air Jet Vortex Generators (AJVGs) in… read more

The Tunnel Managers Forum took place on 6th March, at Loughborough University. The day commenced with a tour of the wind tunnel facilities and was attended by 15 tunnel managers from academia and industry facilities. This year’s SATA presentation competition was won by Kevin Gouder, Imperial College. Kevin’s… read more

The new role of National Wind Tunnel Facility Business Development Manager will nurture and develop NWTF relationships to build prestigious projects for the NWTF community that provide impact to the UK economy and society, tackling the government grand challenges of clean economic growth and the future of mobility. This… read more

Thank you to keynote speakers Benjamin Leclaire – ONERA, Carsten Lenfers – DNW, Christopher Sheaf – Rolls-Royce, Adrian Gaylard – JLR, Matt McGilvray – University of Oxford and Isabella Fumarola – Imperial College for agreeing to take part in the NWTF Conference 2025. Further details on their talks… read more

A research team at Imperial College has characterised the dynamic air flow around a scale model truck, informing the design of intelligent, adjustable flaps to reduce drag and cut fuel consumption. Transport is responsible for around one-fifth of global CO2 emissions. For freight trucks with combustion engines, it… read more