VR-56 Breaks Ground for New Hangar
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS101110-24
11/10/2010
By Cathy Heimer, Naval Air Station Oceana Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana took a major leap forward as ground was broken during a ceremony on Nov. 2, for a 61,000 square foot hangar to house Fleet Logistics Squadron (VR) 56.
The ceremony also recognized the end of an era with the impending retirement of the C-9B Skytrains flown by the Globemasters.
Parked on the Oceana runway, behind the groundbreaking, was a C-40A Clipper, which the squadron will be flying by 2012. Earlier this year, the Globemasters began phasing out the C-9s they have flown for 30 years, providing logistics support, disaster relief, military transport, and war time operations around the world.
Rear Adm. John Sadler, commander, Naval Air Forces Reserve (CNAFR) and deputy commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF), highlighted the many achievements of the Globemasters.
"They are celebrating 34 years of mishap-free, worldwide support to the Navy and our joint service team, transporting people and cargo around the world," said Sadler. "The hangar we will dedicate today is a symbol of the teamwork between the squadron; Naval Air Station Oceana; Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic; Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic, and our contractors from Hourigan Construction and their partners, Clark Nexsen Architecture," said Sadler.
The new hangar will be built between hangars 200 and 23, and have 27,000 square feet of hangar bay space, allowing aircraft maintenance to be completed inside. The remaining 34,000 square feet will be devoted to administration and support areas. Construction of the $15 million, state-of-the-art hangar is expected to be completed in about 18 months.
Sadler was also very excited about the new aircraft CNAFR will soon be flying.
"The new C-40 aircraft, almost twice the range, twice the payload and half the overall cost, will allow VR-56 to more efficiently and effectively support the Navy as a joint team for many years to come," he said.
The C-40A, a modified Boeing 737-700C, includes stronger landing gear and larger cargo compartment to meet the squadron's mission. The C-40A is the first new logistics aircraft for the Naval Reserve in 17 years.
"It's not every day that a new hangar is constructed for a squadron," said VR-56 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Paul Ostrowski. "It's definitely an exciting time to be a Globemaster; to be in the VR community."
Not only is the new hangar a major improvement for the Globemasters, who currently share hangar 200 with several other commands and squadrons, it is also part of Oceana's master plan.
"This is really the turning point in which we continue to work toward the modernization of the flightline here at NAS Oceana," said NAS Oceana Commanding Officer Capt. Jim Webb.
By combining CNAFR's funding with Oceana's overall master flightline plan, "what we end up with is an incredibly capable and efficient new hangar to house the newest aircraft that the Navy will bring to Oceana," said Webb.
The new hangar is one of several to upgrade aging infrastructure aboard Oceana, including work at hangar 500, runway renovations and the Energy Saving Performance Contract, which replaces the steam heating and cooling system with one that is environmentally-friendly and cost-efficient.
"This will be a lot of great work by a lot of great people," said Webb Chris Brandt, Hourigan Construction executive vice president. "We're very, very proud and very, very honored to be allowed to be part of the C-40 hangar design."
He explained his personal pride "comes at a little bit different level" as his daughter-in-law, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Lori Brandt just returned from a tour in Iraq and is now stationed at Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106. "That's why we're here – to support you," said Brandt.
The company is no stranger to Oceana, currently working on the renovation of the air station's runways. They have also finished renovations at Hangar 500, along with other projects on base.
The new hangar will meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification standards of the U.S. Green Building Council, which according to their Web site at www. usgbc.org, means the hangar is "designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions.
With twice the range and cargo, Globemaster Pilot Lt. Cmdr. Scott Simmons is looking forward to the arrival of the C-40s, as well as moving out of hangar 200 into their own spaces.
"It really extends the capabilities, so we'll get to go in a lot of different theaters," said Simmons. "We've been supporting a lot of worldwide operations with the C-9 but now we'll be able to do even more."
For more news from Naval Air Station Oceana, visit www.navy.mil/local/oceana/.
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