C-17s get state-of-the-art home

  • Published
  • By Erickson J. Barnes
  • 452nd Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) --  When the 452nd Air Mobility Wing here welcomes eight C-17 Globemaster IIIs later this year, the aircraft will be maintained in an environmentally friendly hangar that is larger than a football field and incorporates advanced construction technology.

“We wanted it to appear it belonged here -- have it blend in with its environment, as well as meet the standards of the 21st century by utilizing the technology available,” said Tom Kempton, project manager for the contracted design and build team.

From planning to completion, the 50,000-square-foot structure was designed to serve as a template for future C-17 hangars in the Air Force, Mr. Kempton said.

The project began in January 2004 when a smaller hangar was torn down to make room for the new building. Materials from it were sent to recycling facilities, which set the theme for construction of the new hangar.

“This is a ‘green’ building,” Mr. Kempton said. “Many of the materials used in this building are recycled, including foundation materials, side paneling and the tiles on the bathroom floor.”

Also, light-reflective materials were used inside the hangar so that minimal artificial lighting is necessary.

The hangar’s new technology literally begins at ground level, Mr. Kempton said. The floor, also light-reflective, was constructed with a new substance called dry shake. The substance is placed into the concrete to create an extremely hard and durable surface that never has to be painted and repels fluids like fuel and oil. The floor can simply be cleaned and waste products washed into the water treatment system, which recycles and treats water before dumping it into the base sewer system.

This system uses the newest technology and is extremely environmental friendly, Mr. Kempton said.

Another feature of the hangar is its sound-resistant side paneling, which was custom-built for this facility and creates a quieter work environment.

“This building certainly has features that will be incorporated in future buildings. This is definitely a template for future hangars,” Mr. Kempton said.

Brig. Gen. James Rubeor, wing commander, said he is very pleased with the standard the hangar sets.

“(It) gives us great capabilities to house and service our C-17s,” General Rubeor said. “It incorporates state-of-the-art design and safety features that will assist our personnel in accomplishing the mission and protect our most valuable asset -- our Airmen.”

The building’s landscape is also designed to use minimal water, he said.

The project was delivered on time and under budget, and is scheduled to be ready by June 1, more than two months ahead of the Aug. 9 delivery of the first C-17.

“This was a good military and industrial partnership,” General Rubeor said.

The 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., will loan the wing a C-17 for the hangar’s June dedication ceremony and for aircrew training.

The new facility ended the first phase of the building process April 20 with the final fire sprinkler foam test. Nine generators pumped foam from a 700-gallon tank onto the hangar floor, a fire-suppression feature designed to smother flames in less than a minute.

The second phase begins May 16 and includes construction of an adjacent facility to house C-17 maintenance shops.