I suspect that it’s not common practice now, but in the 50’s NATO was known for sending large waves of planes towards the NATO/Warsaw Pact border during truly terrible weather, causing the Soviets to have to scramble large numbers of fighters to intercept.
While, like the aircraft above, the NATO aircraft never actually crossed the border, the WP forces were not happy campers as at the time their planes had a lot tougher time handling high winds and ice. I suspect the entire exercise caused a lot of pilots a lot of grey hair on both sides.
