Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Area B, Building 70, Fuel & Oil Test Laboratory, East side of C Street between Sixth & Seventh Streets, Dayton

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER OHIO,29-DAYT.V,1AW-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Built during Wright Field * s World War II construction boom, Building 70 has been in continuous use as a fuels analysis facility since the war. Project History: This report is part of the overall Wright- Patterson Air Force Base, Area B documentation project conducted by HAER See overview report, HAER No. OH-7 9, for a complete description of the project. WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, AREA B, BUILDING 70, FUEL AND OIL TEST LABORATORY HAER No. OH-79-AW (Page 2)

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER OHIO,29-DAYT.V,1AW-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The Fuel and Oil Test Laboratory is a rectangular, two-story, brick building with a low parapeted flat roof with concrete coping. Ribbon style replacement windows with concrete lintels and sills extend the length of the building. A ramp with posts and rails lead to an arched tunnel entrance to the basement. Steps on either side of the tunnel meet at the top and lead to the wide, stone entrance with reeded articulations flanking the original glass-paneled doors and transom. In contrast with this Art Deco entrance, the rest of the building exhibits elements of the International style with its simple, clean lines. Moreover, the building features numerous exposed pipes, vents, and electrical wiring in metal casings that emphasize the functional nature of its design.

HISTORY: Built in to accommodate the Fuel and Oil Branch of the Power Plant Laboratory (now the Aero Propulsion and Power Directorate) , Building 70 has been in continuous use as a fuels analysis facility since World War II. The Laboratory had the capabilities to investigate fuel storage characteristics at different temperatures, fuel heat transfer and heat sink characteristics, and fuel lubricity and rheology. Specialized equipment there included a climatic test room (capable of temperatures to 130 F and humidity), chemistry laboratories, engine test stands, six single-cylinder engines (specially designed for fuels and lubricants testing), burner test rigs, and gear testing devices.

Among the many advances developed in Building facilities was an oil dilution system for cold weather starting, standardized for all types of aircraft. Building 70 currently houses the San Antonio ALC Energy Management Laboratory. The first floor consists primarily of laboratory space, while the second floor contains mostly office space. The basement accommodates storage vaults and utilities. For bibliography, see Wright-Patterson Air Force Base overview report (HAER No. OH-79).