Space History Photo: Experimental Low-Drag Test Panel on Douglas B-18

The test panel on the Douglas B-18, installed in 1941, was designed to test the transition in the boundary layer. (Image credit: NACA.)

In this historical photo from the U.S. space agency, Langley installed an experimental low-drag test panel on the wing of a Douglas B-18 airplane in the spring of 1941. The panel was fitted with suction slots and pressure tubes for a free flight investigation of the transition from laminar to turbulent flow in the boundary layer. The pressure at each tube was measured by liquid manometers installed in the fuselage.

The National Advisory Committe on Aeronautics (NACA) was a precursor to NASA. NACA was created by Congress in 1915.

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the U.S. government agency in charge of the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Founded in 1958, NASA is a civilian space agency aimed at exploring the universe with space telescopes, satellites, robotic spacecraft, astronauts and more. The space agency has 10 major centers based across the U.S. and launches robotic and crewed missions from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida. It's astronaut corps is based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. To follow NASA's latest mission, follow the space agency on Twitter or any other social channel, of visit: nasa.gov.