“We usually have a week or so when the temperature plummets to -30°C.” So is icing an issue? “It is,” explained Lt Col Mecklin, “but not at really low temperatures such as -20°Centigrade and below as the extreme cold removes the moisture from the air and the Adour engine actually produces more thrust at these temperatures. However, when we are a little less cold in Spring and Autumn ice affects the wings and the engines and can make the aircraft heavier. We also get lots of birds nesting in Scandinavia in the summer which can lead to bird strikes. On the plus side, though we are close to the sea, the coastal waters have a low salt content so there’s little issue with corrosion. The robustness of the Hawk and the Adour is vital given the throughput of pilots here.”
Meanwhile, out on the flightline, engineers and pilots prepare for the next training sorties – a seamless team of career servicemen and women and conscripts working with an aircraft and engine that are also fused in capability and mission. The perfect combination for a unique operation.