Breathtaking: Raising the American Flag on Tyndall

On March 13th, about 500 employees and visitors gathered for a celebratory lunch, after the symbolic “Topping Off” of Hangar 1, the first of four hangars to be built on Tyndall Air Force Base, to house the first six combat-coded, fifth-generation, F-35A Lightning II aircraft. These novel aircraft and hangars incorporate innovative designs and technology to equip Airmen to execute the missions of today and the future, to project unrivaled combat airpower for our great nation and readiness for worldwide deployment in support of combat operations.

Mr. Stephen Devine, Project Superintendent of the $600 million project to build the Tyndall AFB Zone 1 F-35 Flightline Facilities, referred to Hangar 1 as a “state-of-the-art hangar,” being built to house the F-35s. Visible was the steel frame for the central main hangar bay, with structures in progress attached to the north side and south side of the hangar, which will house the work facilities where the aircraft will be maintained. The final cost of Hangar 1 is projected to be $65 million.

Mr. Devine explained that a “Topping Off Ceremony” is a significant milestone that brings together the craft workers to recognize the countless hours they put in, and to celebrate the final erection of the steel structure. Next, craft workers will add the “skin”, do the “dry-in” and move on to additional activities to complete the interior and exterior of the building.

The white “final beam” was prominent in the forefront of the hangar, behind the stage, and was adorned with the American Flag and a small pine tree to symbolize patriotism and new beginnings. Before the ceremony, attendees were invited to sign the symbolic beam. Mr. Devine said that the significance of signing the beam is to symbolize and recognize the hard work and efforts of the men and women who invested about five hundred thousand (500,000) manhours of safe work in the project. The signatures and the emblems on the beam, including the 325th Fighter Wing, Corps of Engineers, Air Force, and others, symbolize not only the countless hours of craft labor but also the efforts of others who contributed to the pre-planning and execution of the project from the very beginning.

Nearly four years after Hurricane Michael damaged 484 buildings at Tyndall Air Force Base, Hensel Phelps employees, contractors, and sub-contractors began the demolition of the prior facilities, to help reshape the base into the “Installation of the Future.” Next came the “dirt work” and foundation of Hangar 1. Today an average of 350 workers per day are on-site, focused on building three new hangars and the Simulator Building, with eleven (11) total buildings planned for Phase I of the project, with completion expected to be in 2025 or 2026. Buildings in Zone 1 include aircraft hangars, a maintenance complex, group headquarters, aircraft parking aprons, aircraft support equipment storage, a corrosion control facility, and an F-35A flight simulator training facility.
Tyndall Air Force Base will eventually house seventy-eight (78) 5th Generation Fighters, factory-delivered from Lockheed Martin, with the latest and greatest capabilities that nobody else has, with a total of forty (40) facilities.

Justin Starns, Regional Vice President, Hensel Phelps, said that one million (1,000,000) cubic yards of dirt have been moved, two million (2,000,000) feet of wick drains were installed, and one mile of large box culvert was installed, to prepare the site. Concrete crews installed thirteen thousand (13,000) cubic yards of concrete for foundations and erected twelve hundred (1,200) tons of steel.

1st Lt. Eric Long, Zone 1 Assistant Project Manager, AFCAC NDR, served as master of ceremonies and welcomed everyone to the Hangar 1 Topping Off Ceremony, followed by a huge round of applause. Lt. Long recognized special guests attending the ceremony including: Callaway Mayor, Pamn Henderson; Commander, 325th Fighter Wing, Col. George Watkins; Honorary Commander, 325th Fighter Wing, Corbin McCall; Deputy Commander, 325th Fighter Wing, Col. Douglas Gable; Command Chief, 325th Fighter Wing, Chief Master Sgt. Wayne Sharp; Commander USACE, Mobile District, Col. Jeremy Chapman; Chief, AFCEC NDR Division, Col. Robert Bartlow Jr.; President, Bay Defense Alliance, Tom Neubauer; and other distinguished guests.

Watching the American Flag rising as the beam was raised at the end of the Ceremony was breathtaking!
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