Welcome to the US Air Force 46th Test Wing’s McKinley’s Climatic Laboratory at the Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The Climatic Lab, which began testing in 1947, is the largest climate testing facility in the world, a real torture chamber for aeroplanes.
In the laboratory, test engineers can create almost every kind of severe weather conditions from a blizzard blowing snow, freezing rain, and desert heat to humid heat, salt fog,and sand storms. Temperatures in this giant laboratory can range from -76C to 74C.
An ice and snow-covered B-1B supersonic bomber aircraft undergoes simulated arctic weather conditions during environmental testing in the main chamber of the McKinley Climatic Laboratory in 1986.
Picture: US Department of Defense
BAE MRA4 Nimrod in extreme-cold experiment.
Picture: BAE Systems
Snow fell on the Air Force’s F-22 Raptor during weather testing.
Picture: US Air Force
F-117 on ice.
Picture: US Air Force
Snow storm.
Picture: US Air Force
An MV-22B Osprey cloaked in frost.
Picture: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Stacia Zachary
Boeing 787 Dreamliner soaks in -45 degree temperatures.
Picture: US Air Force/Samuel King Jr.
The C-5M Super Galaxy undergoes extreme heat and ultraviolet exposure.
Picture: US Air Force/Greg Murry
F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft undergoes heat test, 1982.
Picture: US Department of Defense
An E-3A Sentry AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft undergoing a rain test
Picture: USDepartment of Defense