Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has revealed that Boeing has become the lead donor in the replacement of its 79-year-old Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel. The new $18m tunnel, carrying the same name, will be the largest and most advanced academic facility in the US and will be operated by its Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The US manufacturer’s gift reflects the century-long relationship between the two organisations and points to the future research and development that will fuel continued innovation.
Several of Boeing’s founding leaders, including Donald Douglas Sr, James S McDonnell and its first-ever engineer, Wong Tsu all studied here. Currently the company employs more than 800 MIT alumni around the world, while more than 50 executives and 60 members of the Boeing Technical Fellowship hold MIT degrees. The new tunnel will be constructed on the site of the current facility at the research university’s Cambridge, Massachusetts campus