1954 Moto Guzzi Mondello Del Lario Italy Wind Tunnel - 1-Page Vintage Article

Description

1954 Moto Guzzi Mondello Del Lario Italy Wind Tunnel - 1-Page Vintage Article
Original, Vintage Magazine Article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm)
Condition: Good
Zero to
136 mPh
in a
Tunnel!
Italy's Moto Guzzi
Factory Uses Wind
Tunnel for Research
in Streamlining on
Their Racing
Motorcycles
THE LAST WORD in motorcycle
racing research can be found at
Italy’s Moto Guzzi plant in Mondello
Del Lario. For here the progressive
Italians have constructed a wind tunnel
to make actual high speed tests of
their streamlined Moto Guzzi racing
motorcycles—only with the rider sit-
ting still!
Both rider and machine are set up
in the tunnel and the huge three-blade
propeller is then put into motion. An
engineer observes the rider thru one of
many glass windows at both sides of
the tunnel. An instrument panel is vis-
ible for the engineer’s inspection. So
the rider will be able to tell the effects
Rider crouches over the semi-streamlined Moto Guzzi. Instruments placed in front of him show
the rider the effects of windstream as he tries various riding positions.
of various riding positions, a gauge is
also placed in front of him. Air speed
measurements are made by Pitot pipes
located inside the test chamber.
The propeller is driven by a 310
horsepower electric motor. The pro-
peller features variable pitch blades,
and the motor’s speed can be varied by
controlling the electrical current—so
almost any combination can be ob-
tained with the air speed ranging from
zero to 136 mph!
Colored wool threads make it easy
for the viewing engineer to study the
effects of air stream motions on rider
and machine.
Moto Guzzi’s wind tunnel is just one
of the many research items in the
quest for speed and superiority by the
majority of the world’s motorcycle
manufacturers who annually compete
on Europe’s Grand Prix circuits.
At right, technician watches rider thru one of
many glass windows lining the wind tunnel.
Technician has control room where he is able
to vary wind pressure, etc.
At left, outside view of Moto Guzzi’s new
wind tunnel, which was opened last April.
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