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Old 02-28-2007, 06:13 PM
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The climatic lab's origin dates back to World War II.

In the winter of 1942-43, the Allies discovered, with raised eyebrows, that the Luftwaffe couldn?t get its aircraft airborne during subzero weather. This grounding of all their planes made it clear to U.S. military leaders that cold weather testing was necessary.

In September 1943, Col. H.O. Russell and Lt. Col. Ashley C. McKinley began developing new and innovative cold-weather testing techniques. Based on his experience ferrying aircraft to the Soviet Union, McKinley believed all U.S. aircraft and equipment should be operable at minus 65 degrees. Consequently, he suggested a refrigerated hangar be constructed at Eglin to produce environmental extremes under controlled conditions.

The first aircraft test, conducted on P-51 Mustangs, started in May 1947 under a simulated arctic environment at what was then called the Climatic Hangar, with temperatures reaching minus 70. Renamed for McKinley after his death in 1971, the lab for the past 47 years has tested almost every type of U.S. military hardware.
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