AI Digest Pending…
On July 16, China's inaugural composite wind tunnel specialized for aerodynamic research of low-altitude aircraft was officially commissioned at the Guangdong Aerospace Science and Technology Institute (GASTI), signifying a breakthrough in establishing foundational scientific research platforms for the low-altitude economy within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
This wind tunnel addresses the infrastructure void spanning from development to real-world scenario validation for low-altitude aerial vehicles. As an artificially controlled airflow apparatus, wind tunnels serve primarily for systematic testing of aircraft, offering advantages like shorter test cycles and reduced costs compared to outdoor scenario evaluations.
Sun Liangbao, GASTI's wind tunnel technology lead, clarified that the testing process involves securing the aircraft to the equipment while generating airflow to simulate relative motion, thereby enabling precise measurement of technical parameters during simulated flight conditions. Capable of accurately replicating Category 7 strong wind environments, the wind tunnel ensures aircraft safety through diverse testing scenarios, including sustained winds and gusts.
The launch of this testing platform will deliver efficient, localized "doorstep" inspection services to low-altitude aircraft R&D enterprises, substantially cutting development expenses and accelerating the conversion of technological innovations into commercial applications.
Shang Zuming, head of GASTI's low-altitude aircraft wind tunnel testing platform, emphasized that post-commissioning in the Greater Bay Area, the timeline for enterprises to coordinate and complete experiments has been slashed from one year to just 3–4 months, markedly boosting R&D efficiency.
