Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Area B, Building 71, Power Plant Engine Test Torque Stands, Seventh Street between D & G Streets, Dayton

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

Building 71 is part of the Power Plant Laboratory Complex, the site of essential aircraft engine research and development, particularly during the and It was the location of Wright Field's first permanent engine test cells. Other structures in the complex were built due to the increased research demands of World War II. 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-79, for a complete description of the project. WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, AREA B, BUILDING 71, POWER PLANT ENGINE TEST TORQUE STANDS HAER No. OH-79-AX (Page 2)

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

Building 71 is a monumental concrete structure consisting of ten 40* stacks designed to accommodate seven torque stands six for engine endurance tests and one for propeller tests. The concrete stacks are connected to each other by enclosed passages. The building is of symmetrical design with repetitive tubular steel sound baffles emerging from the top above each torque stand. Originally open to the the baffles are now enclosed. Each engine support pier consists of a block of concrete sunk 20' into the ground and encased completely in cork to absorb the intense vibration generated during engine and propeller endurance testing.

HISTORY: The Power Plant Engine Test Torque Stands (Building 71) were completed in replacing two temporary engine test cells constructed in In attempting to increase the power output and durability of engines, the seven torque stands performed crucial performance and endurance tests lasting up to 150 hours at a time. The tests also helped develop new types of engines, improve fuels, and extend supercharging to higher powers and altitudes. In the late Test Cells 1 and 2 were modified to Turbo-Prop engines and Test Cells 3, 4, 5 and 6 were converted to Turbo-Jet Engine Cells, and later had exhaust mufflers installed to reduce engine noise. During the 3, 4 and 5 stands were primarily used to conduct engine oil qualification tests using and J79 engines.

In the Inertial Starter Test Rig was installed in Test Cell 7. This Test Rig had a variable inertial load capability for performance testing of various jet engine starters (electric, air, combustion and cartridge) . In 19 67 No. 1 Stand was modified to become the Magneto Hydrodynamics Research Facility. In the Building 71 no longer houses engine testing, and is now used by the Materials Directorate in a support capacity for its Laser Hardened Materials Test Facility. For bibliography, see Wright-Patterson Air Force Base overview report (HAER No. OH-79).