KC46-A campus at Tinker Air Force Base continues to grow

Photo By Stacey Reese | Construction of a new three-bay hangar is underway on the KC46A campus at Tinker AFB. When finished, the facility will consist of three hangar docks sized to enclose the KC-46A aircraft and required clearances. Within the facility, there will be a central area that houses the metal shop, kitting area, tool room, break room, and administrative offices.  

TINKER AFB, OK, UNITED STATES

10.25.2023

Story by Stacey Reese 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla.—With construction beginning on a three-bay hangar, the multi-phase campus for depot maintenance of the KC-46A is growing once again.

When finished, the facility will consist of three hangar docks sized to enclose the KC-46A aircraft and required clearances. Within the facility, there will be a central area that houses the metal shop, kitting area, tool room, break room, and administrative offices. Additionally, there will be utility rooms, communications rooms and other support spaces located within the hangar. Overhead cranes and fall protection will be integrated into this facility.
“Foundation work will include 133 piers with an average approximate depth of 30 to 32 feet,” said Donnie Tharp, construction alternate quality control manager for Harper Construction. “The piers will be different sizes based on the different pressures and weights the columns need to support.”
Seven of 14 bays are now in operation. Projects which have been completed for the campus are a one- bay depot maintenance hangar, a two-bay depot maintenance hangar, a two-bay programmed depot maintenance hangar, a two-bay fuel maintenance hangar, industrial waste line, maintenance complex infrastructure and a system integration lab.

“The three-bay hangar currently under construction is a great opportunity to highlight how we can apply lessons learned from the previous hangars,” said Byron Floyd, Tulsa District senior construction representative.”
“This is also an opportunity strengthen our partnership with our stakeholders, prime contractors, and the construction industry to show how we are here to help all of them be successful,” said Floyd.
Construction of the campus is expected to continue through 2029. At completion, the 158-acre campus will provide eight hangars, ramp infrastructure, software innovation labs, and engine test facilities. The Pegasus eventually will replace the KC-135, another refueling tanker that has a maintenance mission at Tinker. The KC-46 which is constructed on a Boeing 767 airframe is taller, longer and has a larger wingspan than that of the KC-135, necessitating the need for new hangars and facilities for depot maintenance.

• Date Taken: 10.25.2023
• Date Posted: 10.25.2023 13:34
• Story ID: 456517
• Location: TINKER AFB, OK, US