128th Air Refueling Wing expands hangar capabilities

By Sr. Airman Ryan Kuntze

128th Air Refueling Wing

A $4 million expansion at the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee that will make maintaining a larger fleet of stratotankers much more efficient is weeks away from completion. The project converts an airplane dock that previously could only accommodate the wings and foward portion of aircraft into a fully enclosed hangar that will allow for year-round painting and cleaning of KC-135R Stratotankers. According to Chief Master Sgt. Chris Chatham, 128th Air Refueling Wing maintenance operations flight chief, a detailed cleaning for stratotankers requires two days in an enclosed hangar. An isochronical inspection - fully reviewing, repairing and returning an aircraft to the flightline as mission ready - takes one month.

Corrosion is the biggest problem for today's aircraft, Chatham explained.

"It's always going to happen to these aircraft as they get older," he said.

Deployments near salt water require constant corrosion repair, and an aircraft deployed for even 30 days requires corrosion maintenance, he said.

Expansion began Sept. 13, 2010 according to Maj. Heath Duncan, 128th Air Refueling Wing civil engineering squadron commander. The project is expected to wrap up on July 10.

The project faced some challenges, such as winter's effects on the new foundation.

Contractors from KPH Construction of Milwaukee continue working on expanding an aircraft dock into an aircraft hangar at the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee. Dual hangars will give a greatly increased capability to the 128th Air Refueling Wing's maintenance squadron and improve efficiency by 40 to 50 percent. The expansion project's current cost estimate is approximately $4 million. 128th Air Refueling Wing photo by 2nd Lt. Nathan Wallin 

"We had to figure out a solution to these problems, and then execute the solution," Duncan said. He praised KPH Construction and the architect and engineering firm Mead and Hunt for their continuing role in mitigating the construction challenges.

"We wouldn't have done this without this team," he said.

Dual hangars will greatly increase the 128th Air Refueling Wing's maintenance capability, Chatham said. The existing hangar is used to great effect, but it is also the site for on-base functions regarding community interactions, such as the Civic Dinner Dance, or training events, such as base-wide annual training. With the new hangar, the maintenance squadron can continue its mission without interruption while also serving the needs of the base's population.

Furthermore, the 128th Air Refueling Wing will save money by reducing the amount of time spent maintaining each aircraft, Chatham said. This has become more important since the Wing acquired three new aircraft late last year, Chatham said.

"[This expansion will] increase our efficiency by 40 to 50 percent," Chatham said.