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I actually graduated from WNEC in Mechanical Engineering the fall before these guys did that test. While I don't remember those guys personally, I do remember a white plastic model being prepped for the wind tunnel. I'm not sure if that is what was used or how they were holding it.
The wind and water tunnels are not that dinky. If the students new their stuff they could have good data. The force data from the wind tunnel may be suspect if the measuring instruments we're not calibrated well, or if the truck was tilted at all, or if they were measuring strain on the post holding the truck. All of which were possible.
When I was there, there were numerous tests being done for optimizing the exhaust for jet engines for military aircraft. Some of which have made their way onto real planes so not all of the tunnel data can be bad.
All that said, I would be highly suspect of the data without seeing the test methodology. I would love to see that report.
Geoff
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