EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Snow fell and temperatures reached 20 degrees inside the McKinley Climatic Lab at Eglin Air Force Base in preparation to test snow traction and ice braking capabilities on vehicle tires. Lab engineers had snow falling Sept. 4 to fill the chamber and create the freezing and icy conditions needed for the customer, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. It took two long days to fill the 55,000 foot chamber with snow and reach the conditions required, according to Matt McCarty, test engineer with McKinley Lab. The McKinley Lab has been an Eglin icon since 1947 and is the largest climatic lab in the world. The 46th Test Wing facility is primarily used for military testing, but provides services to commercial companies and even foreign countries. (Source: Eglin Public Affairs, 09/13/10)
NEWS: A digest of aerospace, defense and technology news from the Gulf Coast I-10 region
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Testing snow tires in Florida
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Snow fell and temperatures reached 20 degrees inside the McKinley Climatic Lab at Eglin Air Force Base in preparation to test snow traction and ice braking capabilities on vehicle tires. Lab engineers had snow falling Sept. 4 to fill the chamber and create the freezing and icy conditions needed for the customer, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. It took two long days to fill the 55,000 foot chamber with snow and reach the conditions required, according to Matt McCarty, test engineer with McKinley Lab. The McKinley Lab has been an Eglin icon since 1947 and is the largest climatic lab in the world. The 46th Test Wing facility is primarily used for military testing, but provides services to commercial companies and even foreign countries. (Source: Eglin Public Affairs, 09/13/10)
