In April, the average temperature in Florida is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. So, why is the 787 Dreamliner in the \”Sunshine State\” testing for freezing temperatures?
There\’s a good explanation: Florida is home to the largest refrigerated hangar in the world. Located at Eglin Air Force Base, the McKinley Climatic Laboratory can simulate temperatures as low as -65 degrees Fahrenheit or as high as 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
\”This is really the only place in the world we could go in April that would give us the kind of cold temperatures that we need,\” said Tom Sanderson, the flight test director for the third 787 test bed. \”We have a lot of new systems on this aircraft and we want to make sure it\’s all functioning properly in extreme situations.\”