History of Defense Aircraft Hush Houses and Test Cells - Military Aviation, Jet Aircraft and Engines, Engine Testing and Noise Problem, Air Force and Air National Guard, World War II to the Cold War

This is a print replica reproduction of a fascinating Department of Defense illustrated study of aircraft hush houses and test cells, National Historic Context for the Hush Houses and Test Cells on Department of Defense Installations. Learn all about these interesting structures that are of such importance to military aviation! Hush houses and test cells are acoustical aircraft enclosures that allow testing of unmounted aircraft engines and testing of fully assembled jet aircraft in an enclosed space, which allows for specific test conditions during testing and maintenance. The sound from the aircraft is absorbed and muffled within the hush house or test cell. The structure allows continuous maintenance on all manner of military aircraft that could only previously be conducted outside or in open hangars, potentially disturbing surrounding communities, and occurring in sight of prying eyes. The ANG has approximately 120 installations, while the Air Force has over 400 installations. The ANG has 55 hush houses for the F-15 and F-16 aircraft, most from the later Cold War period (1980s). Several of the hush houses within ANG are inactive and may be affected by Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) procedures. Prior to beginning the study, the estimated number of installations that have hush houses at Air Force, ANG, Air Reserves, Naval Air Stations (NAS), Marine Corps Air Stations (MCAS), and Army Air installations exceeded 100. Hush houses and test cells as a property type have been overlooked in the literature that provides the basis for management of aviation resources.

Originally, the focus of this study was on hush houses; however, as the project progressed, test cells have been included. The focus has remained on hush houses and test cells at military installations that repair and maintain aircraft, and not on test cells associated with research and design facilities. One early research and design test cell is discussed in the case studies because it was one of the first test cells in the country. A typology of hush houses and test cells found at U.S. military installations is provided, as well as specific case studies. These resources range from permanent “brick and mortar” to moveable structures, and are tied directly to air fighter, transport, refueling, and other air support missions from early military aviation development during WW II throughout the Cold War.

INTRODUCTION * Project Description * Methodology * Acknowledgements * HISTORIC CONTEXT * Early Development of Military Aviation to Jet Aircraft * Jet Engines – the Basics * Engine Testing and the Noise Problem * Technology for Noise Attenuation * RESOURCE TYPES * Hush Houses * Test Cells * Early Test Cells * Test Stands * Current Military Hush House and Test Cell Inventory * IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION METHODOLOGY FOR HUSH HOUSES AND TEST CELLS * Significance * Property Classifications * Issues Related to Evaluating Properties Using the Hush House and Test Cell Historic Context * Historic District Versus Individual Eligibility * Comparing Related Properties * Properties Significant Within More than One Historic Context
Levels of Significance * Applying the National Register Criteria for Evaluation * Criterion A: Association with Events * Criterion B: Association with People * Criterion C: Design/Construction * Criterion D: Information Potential