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BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833)<br />
Pic: PhilYeomans/BNPS<br />
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How it works.<br />
<br />
The coldest of Cold War relics has opened to the public after years of secrecy. <br />
<br />
Barnes Wallis's amazing Stratosphere Chamber was built at Brooklands in 1947 to test aircraft in high altitude conditions of flight.<br />
<br />
Constructed from the hull of a nuclear submarine the 340 ton structure could replicate temperatures down to -60 centigrade at 60,000 feet, as well as blasting rain, sleet or snow at 40 kts through the sealed chamber.<br />
<br />
As well as aircraft the facility was also used to test naval equipment in freezing arctic conditions, and even the effects of icing on trawler rigging.<br />
<br />
The gigantic structure, containing the cockpit of a Viscount passenger aircraft, has now been spruced up and is open to the public at the Brooklands Museum in Weybridge.

BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833)
Pic: PhilYeomans/BNPS

How it works.

The coldest of Cold War relics has opened to the public after years of secrecy.

Barnes Wallis's amazing Stratosphere Chamber was built at Brooklands in 1947 to test aircraft in high altitude conditions of flight.

Constructed from the hull of a nuclear submarine the 340 ton structure could replicate temperatures down to -60 centigrade at 60,000 feet, as well as blasting rain, sleet or snow at 40 kts through the sealed chamber.

As well as aircraft the facility was also used to test naval equipment in freezing arctic conditions, and even the effects of icing on trawler rigging.

The gigantic structure, containing the cockpit of a Viscount passenger aircraft, has now been spruced up and is open to the public at the Brooklands Museum in Weybridge.