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Two wind tunnels in the Department of Aeronautics have been renamed the Peter Bearman and John Harvey Wind Tunnels, honouring two leading researchers. The announcement recognises their lasting contributions to experimental aerodynamics and highlights the Department’s century-long legacy of innovation, with the facilities continuing to support research and teaching.

Two of the Department of Aeronautics’ key experimental facilities have been renamed in honour of distinguished academics whose work has shaped the field of aerodynamics at ³Ô¹ÏÍø and beyond.

The T1 and T2 wind tunnels are now named the Peter Bearman Wind Tunnel and the John Harvey Wind Tunnel, following a ceremony held on 11 June 2026. The event brought together colleagues, students and alumni to celebrate the achievements of Professor Peter Bearman and Professor John Harvey, both of whom were in attendance.

The occasion recognised not only their individual contributions but also the central role that experimental aerodynamics has played in the Department for over a century.

A century of experimental innovation

Wind tunnels have been integral to research and teaching in Aeronautics since the Department’s earliest years. The first wind tunnel at ³Ô¹ÏÍø became operational in 1925, built to test models of airships, which at the time were seen as a promising future for air transport.

This marked the beginning of a long tradition of experimental investigation. By the 1930s, researchers were already developing innovative approaches to studying flow behaviour, including early water-based visualisation techniques that anticipated modern particle image velocimetry.

Over the decades, the Department expanded its experimental capabilities significantly, building a suite of facilities that supported advances in racing car and road vehicle aerodynamics, turbulence, boundary layers, high-speed aerodynamics and aerospace engineering more broadly.

Today, the T1 and T2 wind tunnels sit within this lineage as versatile, high-quality facilities supporting both research and teaching.

Timeline: wind tunnel development at ³Ô¹ÏÍø

1925
The first wind tunnel in the Department becomes operational, featuring an open-return design and built to test airship models.

1930s
Development of the “Fluid Motion Apparatus”, enabling flow visualisation in water using seeded particles and photographic techniques.

1950s to 1960s
Major expansion into high-speed aerodynamics, including hypersonic gun tunnels and plasma jet facilities for studying extreme flow conditions and re-entry physics.

1969
Professor Peter Bradshaw joins ³Ô¹ÏÍø and designs compact blower tunnels that advance the study of turbulent boundary layers.

1971
The 3 × 3 wind tunnel becomes operational, widely used for research student projects and wake studies due to its long test section and low turbulence.

1985
The Honda Wind Tunnel is officially opened, designed with input from Professor Peter Bearman and Professor John Harvey. It becomes a landmark facility for large-scale aerodynamic testing.

1990s to 2010s
Continued development and modernisation of facilities, including upgrades to supersonic tunnels and the introduction of advanced measurement techniques such as PIV and Schlieren imaging.

2014
A major redevelopment of the 10 x 5 wind tunnel enhances capability with extended test sections and temperature control.

2017
The Department of Aeronautics relocates to the City and Guilds Building, marking a new phase in the evolution of its experimental infrastructure. The T1 and T2 wind tunnels become operational.

2026
The T1 and T2 wind tunnels are formally renamed the Peter Bearman Wind Tunnel and the John Harvey Wind Tunnel.

The Peter Bearman Wind Tunnel

The T1 facility has been renamed the Peter Bearman Wind Tunnel in recognition of Professor Peter Bearman’s seminal contributions to bluff-body aerodynamics.

Professor Bearman’s research has had a profound impact on the understanding of vortex shedding, flow control, wake dynamics and fluid–structure interaction. His highly cited work has influenced generations of researchers in aerospace, civil engineering, offshore engineering and vehicle aerodynamics.

The tunnel reflects this strong experimental tradition. Its carefully controlled flow environment, combined with the flexibility to accommodate complex configurations and turbulence-generating grids, makes it a valuable tool for investigating challenging aerodynamic phenomena.

Colleagues paid tribute to Professor Bearman’s impact not only as a leading researcher but also as a mentor who has influenced generations of students and researchers.

The John Harvey Wind Tunnel

The T2 facility has been renamed the John Harvey Wind Tunnel in recognition of Professor John Harvey’s contributions to high-speed aerodynamics and experimental facilities.

Professor Harvey made significant contributions to the development of shock tunnels and to the understanding of ground-effect aerodynamics, particularly in Formula One. He also played an important role in shaping ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s experimental infrastructure, ensuring the Department remained at the forefront of aerodynamic research.

His expertise in aerodynamic measurement systems, testing methodologies and wind-tunnel design helped advance both research capability and practical engineering application.

The T2 wind tunnel reflects this emphasis on performance and precision. With a larger test section and temperature-controlled flow, it supports experiments requiring stability and repeatability across a wide range of aerodynamic conditions.

Building on a shared legacy

Both Professor Bearman and Professor Harvey contributed to the design and development of major facilities at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, including the 10′ × 5′ Wind Tunnel (formerly the Honda Wind Tunnel), which remains an important part of the Department’s experimental capability.

Their work helped define a distinctive approach that combines fundamental research with practical application. This continues to underpin the Department’s impact across academia, industry and engineering practice.

Together, they demonstrated the value of combining rigorous experimentation with engineering application. Their collaborative work on sports aerodynamics, including landmark studies of golf-ball aerodynamics and surface-flow control effects, remains widely recognised.

The renaming of the T1 and T2 wind tunnels creates a clear link between the Department’s past and its future, while recognising their lasting contributions.

Looking ahead

As the Department of Aeronautics continues to tackle global challenges such as sustainable aviation and climate resilience, experimental facilities remain central to its success.

The Peter Bearman and John Harvey Wind Tunnels will continue to support cutting-edge research and hands-on education, enabling the next generation of engineers to test ideas and explore complex aerodynamic problems.

Professor Rafael Palacios, Head of the Department of Aeronautics, said “The renaming of these wind tunnels is a fitting recognition of two individuals whose work has left a lasting mark on Aeronautics at ³Ô¹ÏÍø. Professor Peter Bearman and Professor John Harvey not only advanced our understanding of aerodynamics through their research, but also helped to build the experimental culture that defines the Department today. It is particularly meaningful that their names will now be associated with facilities that continue to support discovery, innovation and the education of future engineers.”

By honouring two of its most influential academics, the Department celebrates not only its history, but also the people whose work continues to shape its future.