McKinley Climatic Laboratory
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McKinley Climatic Laboratory | |
 F-117A, 84-0824, on ice at McKinley Climatic Laboratory in 1991 | |
   | |
| Nearest city | Fort Walton Beach, Florida |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 30°28′33″N 86°30′27″W / 30.47583°N 86.50750°W |
| Built | 1944 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001145[1] |
| Added to NRHP | October 6, 1997 |
The McKinley Climatic Laboratory is both an active laboratory and a historic site located in Building 440 on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The laboratory is part of the 96th Test Wing. In addition to Air Force testing, it can be used by other US government agencies and private industry.[2]
On October 6, 1997, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.[1] The laboratory was named a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1987.[3][4]
In 1940, the US Army Air Force designated Ladd Field in Fairbanks, Alaska as a cold-weather testing facility. Because sufficiently cold weather was not predictable and often of short duration, Ashley McKinley suggested a refrigerated airplane hangar be built. The facilities were constructed at Eglin Field.[4]
The first tests started in May 1947. Airplanes that were tested included the B-29 Superfortress, C-82 Packet, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, P-80 Shooting Star, and the Sikorsky H-5D helicopter.[4] More recently, it has tested the C-5 Galaxy,[4] the F-117,[5] the F-22,[6] the Boeing 787,[7] and the Airbus A350 XWB.[8]
On 12 June 1971, the hangar was dedicated as the McKinley Climatic Hangar in honor of Col. Ashley McKinley, who suggested the facility and served at Eglin during its construction.[4]
