CHAPTER 20—WIND TUNNELS

SUBCHAPTER I—CONSTRUCTION OF WIND-TUNNEL FACILITIES

        

SUBCHAPTER II—AIR ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT CENTER

        

SUBCHAPTER I—CONSTRUCTION OF WIND-TUNNEL FACILITIES

§511. Joint development of unitary plan for construction of facilities; construction at educational institutions

The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (hereinafter referred to as the "Administrator") and the Secretary of Defense are authorized and directed jointly to develop a unitary plan for the construction of transsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic wind-tunnel facilities for the solution of research, development, and evaluation problems in aeronautics, including the construction of facilities at educational institutions within the continental limits of the United States for training and research in aeronautics, and to revise the uncompleted portions of the unitary plan from time to time to accord with changes in national defense requirements and scientific and technical advances. The Administrator and the Secretaries of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force are authorized to proceed with the construction and equipment of facilities in implementation of the unitary plan to the extent permitted by appropriations pursuant to existing authority and the authority contained in this chapter. Any further implementation of the unitary plan shall be subject to such additional authorizations as may be approved by Congress.

(Oct. 27, 1949, ch. 766, title I, §101, 63 Stat. 936; Pub. L. 85–568, title III, §301(d)(1), (2), July 29, 1958, 72 Stat. 433; Pub. L. 106–391, title III, §312(1), Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1594.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2000—Pub. L. 106–391 substituted "transsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic" for "transsonic and supersonic".

1958—Pub. L. 85–568 substituted "The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (hereinafter referred to as the 'Administrator')" for "The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (hereinafter referred to as the 'Committee')", and "Administrator" for "Committee" in second sentence.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1958 Amendment

Pub. L. 85–568, title III, §301(e), July 29, 1958, 72 Stat. 433, provided that: "This section [amending this section and sections 512, 513, and 515 of this title, section 22–1 of former Title 5, and sections 2302 and 2303 of Title 10, Armed Forces, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 2472 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare] shall take effect ninety days after the date of the enactment of this Act [July 29, 1958], or on any earlier date on which the Administrator [of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration] shall determine, and announce by proclamation published in the Federal Register, that the Administration has been organized and is prepared to discharge the duties and exercise the powers conferred upon it by this Act."

Short Title

Act Oct. 27, 1949, ch. 766, title I, §106, 63 Stat. 937, provided that: "This title [enacting this subchapter] may be cited as the 'Unitary Wind Tunnel Plan Act of 1949'."

Act Oct. 27, 1949, ch. 766, title II, §205, 63 Stat. 938, provided that: "This title [enacting subchapter II of this chapter] may be cited as the 'Air Engineering Development Center Act of 1949'."

§512. Limitation on cost of construction and equipment; vesting of title to facilities

The Administrator is authorized, in implementation of the unitary plan, to construct and equip transsonic or supersonic wind tunnels of a size, design and character adequate for the efficient conduct of experimental work in support of long-range fundamental research at educational institutions within the continental United States, to be selected by the Administrator, or to enter into contracts with such institutions to provide for such construction and equipment, at a total cost not to exceed $10,000,000: Provided, That the Administrator may, in his discretion, after consultation with the Committees on Armed Services of both Houses of the Congress, vest title to the facilities completed pursuant to this section in such educational institutions under such terms and conditions as may be deemed in the best interests of the United States.

(Oct. 27, 1949, ch. 766, title I, §102, 63 Stat. 936; Pub. L. 85–568, title III, §301(d)(2), (3), July 29, 1958, 72 Stat. 433.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1958—Pub. L. 85–568 substituted "Administrator" for "Committee" in three places, and "his" for "its".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1958 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 85–568 effective 90 days after July 29, 1958, or on any earlier date on which the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration determines, and announces by proclamation, that the Administration has been organized and is prepared to discharge the duties and exercise the powers conferred upon it, see section 301(e) of Pub. L. 85–568, set out as a note under section 511 of this title.

§513. Expansion of existing facilities; appropriations; testing of models

(a) The Administrator is authorized to expand the facilities at his existing laboratories and centers by the construction of additional transsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic wind tunnels, including buildings, equipment, and accessory construction, and by the acquisition of land and installation of utilities.

(b) There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, but not to exceed $136,000,000.

(c) The facilities authorized by this section shall be operated and staffed by the Administrator but shall be available primarily to industry for testing experimental models in connection with the development of aircraft and missiles. Such tests shall be scheduled and conducted in accordance with industry's requirements and allocation of facility time shall be made in accordance with the public interest, with proper emphasis upon the requirements of each military service and due consideration of civilian needs.

(Oct. 27, 1949, ch. 766, title I, §103, 63 Stat. 937; Pub. L. 85–568, title III, §301(d)(2), (3), July 29, 1958, 72 Stat. 433; Pub. L. 106–391, title III, §312(2), Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1594.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2000—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–391, §312(2)(A), (B), substituted "laboratories and centers" for "laboratories" and "transsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic" for "supersonic".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–391, §312(2)(C), substituted "facility" for "laboratory".

1958—Subsecs. (a), (c). Pub. L. 85–568 substituted "Administrator" for "Committee" in subsecs. (a) and (c), and "his" for "its" in subsec. (a).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1958 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 85–568 effective 90 days after July 29, 1958, or on any earlier date on which the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration determines, and announces by proclamation, that the Administration has been organized and is prepared to discharge the duties and exercise the powers conferred upon it, see section 301(e) of Pub. L. 85–568, set out as a note under section 511 of this title.

Additional Appropriations

Act June 29, 1950, ch. 405, §801, 64 Stat. 286, provided in part for an additional appropriation of $75,000,000, to remain available until expended; for the construction and completion and equipment of facilities at the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

§514. Expansion of facilities at Carderock, Maryland

The Secretary of the Navy is authorized, in implementation of the unitary plan, to expand the naval facilities at the David W. Taylor Model Basin, Carderock, Maryland, by the construction of a wind tunnel, including buildings, equipment, utilities, and accessory construction, at a cost not to exceed $6,600,000.

(Oct. 27, 1949, ch. 766, title I, §104, 63 Stat. 937.)

§515. Reports to Congress

The Administrator shall submit semi-annual written reports to the Congress covering the selection of institutions and contracts entered into pursuant to section 512 of this title together with other pertinent information relative to the Administrator's activities and accomplishments thereunder.

(Oct. 27, 1949, ch. 766, title I, §105, 63 Stat. 937; Pub. L. 85–568, title III, §301(d)(2), July 29, 1958, 72 Stat. 433.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1958—Pub. L. 85–568 substituted "Administrator" for "Committee" and "Administrator's" for "Committee's".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1958 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 85–568 effective 90 days after July 29, 1958, or on any earlier date on which the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration determines, and announces by proclamation, that the Administration has been organized and is prepared to discharge the duties and exercise the powers conferred upon it, see section 301(e) of Pub. L. 85–568, set out as a note under section 511 of this title.

SUBCHAPTER II—AIR ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT CENTER

§521. Establishment; construction, maintenance, and operation of public works and wind tunnels

The Secretary of the Air Force is authorized to establish an Air Engineering Development Center, and to construct, install, and equip (1) temporary and permanent public works, including housing accommodations and community facilities for military and civilian personnel, buildings, facilities, appurtenances, and utilities; and (2) wind tunnels in implementation of the unitary plan referred to in subchapter I of this chapter; and to maintain and operate the public works and wind tunnels authorized by this subchapter.

(Oct. 27, 1949, ch. 766, title II, §201, 63 Stat. 937.)

§522. Acquisition of lands; advance payments for construction

To accomplish the purposes of this subchapter, the Secretary of the Air Force is authorized to acquire lands and rights pertaining thereto, or other interest therein, including the temporary use thereof, by donation, purchase, exchange of Government-owned lands, or otherwise, and construction under this subchapter may be prosecuted without regard to section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31.

(Oct. 27, 1949, ch. 766, title II, §202, 63 Stat. 937.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

"Section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31" substituted in text for "section 3648, Revised Statutes, as amended [31 U.S.C. 529]" on authority of Pub. L. 97–258, §4(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1067, the first section of which enacted Title 31, Money and Finance.

§523. Employment of civilian personnel

The Secretary of the Air Force is authorized to employ such civilian personnel as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter without regard to the limitation on maximum number of employees imposed by section 14(a) ¹ of the Federal Employees Pay Act of 1946 (5 U.S.C. 947(g)).

(Oct. 27, 1949, ch. 766, title II, §203, 63 Stat. 937.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 14(a) of the Federal Employees Pay Act of 1946 (5 U.S.C. 947(g)), referred to in text, was repealed by act Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, title III, §301(85), 64 Stat. 843.

¹ See References in Text note below.

§524. Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to remain available until expended when so specified in the appropriation act concerned, (a) not to exceed $157,500,000 for the establishment and for initial construction, installation, and equipment of the Air Engineering Development Center authorized in this subchapter, including expenses for necessary surveys and acquisition of land, and (b) such sums as may be necessary to carry out the other purposes of this subchapter.

(Oct. 27, 1949, ch. 766, title II, §204, 63 Stat. 937; Sept. 21, 1950, ch. 969, 64 Stat. 895.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1950—Act Sept. 21, 1950, substituted "$157,500,000" for "$100,000,000".