AC-130J undergoes arctic temperature cold soak

Air Commandos attend an orientation briefing at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 20, 2017. The AC-130J Ghostrider gunship went to the climatic lab to test its competence to function at 0-degree temperatures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

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AC-130J undergoes arctic temperature cold soak

Senior Airman Adrian Gonzalez, a crew chief with the 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, wing walks an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 20, 2017. Gonzalez wing walked the gunship to safely escort it while it is towed into the McKinley Climatic Laboratory, a hangar used to test an aircraft’s ability to operate under extreme conditions, such as low temperatures and high winds. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

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AC-130J undergoes arctic temperature cold soak

Staff Sgt. Nikolas Kimmel, a crew chief with the 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, tail walks an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 20, 2017. Kimmel wing walked the gunship to safely usher the aircraft into the McKinley Climatic Laboratory, a hangar used to test an aircraft’s ability to operate under extreme conditions, such as low temperatures and high winds. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

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AC-130J undergoes arctic temperature cold soak

Air Commandos from the 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron look at a step-by-step checklist at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 21, 2017. This checklist was used to bring power to the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship while it underwent its first cold soak, a test done to examine the aircrafts operational competence and resilience in arctic temperatures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

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AC-130J undergoes arctic temperature cold soak

Senior Airman Adrian Gonzalez, a crew chief with the 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, looks at a step-by-step checklist at Eglin Air Force Base, March 21, 2017. This checklist was used to bring power to the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship while it underwent it's first cold soak, a test done to examine the aircrafts operational competence in arctic temperatures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

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AC-130J undergoes arctic temperature cold soak

Christopher Williams, an electrician with the 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, gives a team mate a thumbs up at Eglin Air Force Base, March 21, 2017. The AC-130J Ghostrider gunship underwent it's first cold soak, a test done to examine the aircraft's ability to function in frigid conditions. The gunship was brought to zero-degree temperatures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)

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AC-130J undergoes arctic temperature cold soak

Air Commandos from the 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron tow an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship out of the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base, March 22, 2017. The gunship underwent it's first cold soak, a test done to examine the aircraft's ability to function in temperature extremes. (Air Force photo by Airman 1s Class Dennis Spain)

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AC-130J undergoes arctic temperature cold soak

Published March 23, 2017
By Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain
1st Special Operatio ns Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla., -- The AC-130J gunship underwent its first cold soak at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 20, 2017. A cold soak is a test done to determine an aircraft's ability to function at O-degree temperatures and discover problems to codify best practices. The gunship will replace the AC-130U Spooky gunship after it completes the final stages of becoming deployment ready. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain)