News

Construction to begin on new Marine hangar

  • Published
  • By Amanda Creel
  • 78 ABW/PA
Robins Air Force Base, GA --  Under a tent on the base's outback, members of the Robins community joined with members of the Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 to celebrate the groundbreaking of a hangar symbolizing the units impending arrival to Robins.

The flightline stood in the foreground of the celebration, adorned with a UH-1 Huey and an AH-1 Cobra forecasting the future of Robins flightline. The helicopter flying unit, known as the Red Dogs, is scheduled to arrive in 2010 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure recommendations and presently is stationed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Atlanta.

Col. Lance Maffett, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing plans officer and BRAC coordinator, greeted the crowd with an old Marine saying, "Marine helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission."

He added, "We are looking forward to hearing our type of sound of freedom here at Robins."

Maj. Gen. Tom Owen, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center commander, said he was excited to see the Marine unit come here, adding the unit would be another great addition to the joint operations already taking place at Robins.

He said the great tradition and history of the unit would allow the Marines to fit right in with the other units residing here.

As another sign of the joint venture in the future, the groundbreaking ended not only with the Air Force song, but the Marine song as well.

"I think it is another testament to the joint posture we are establishing in the Department of Defense," Colonel Maffett said of the relocation.

The hangar is expected to cost about $21 million and will measure more than 40,000 square feet. The hangar will include an armaments room, admin space and space where helicopter maintenance can be performed. The hangar construction is scheduled to be completed some time during the first quarter of 2010 and ready for Marine occupancy, said Rick Kavanaugh project engineer with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

Mr. Kavanaugh said one of the biggest differences the Marine hangar will have compared to existing hangars at Robins is the fire protection system, which will be the kind used by the Navy rather than the Air Force. He said the location of the system will be in the trenches in the floor, rather than above or on the walls.

The unit of 150 active-duty Marines and 300 reservists will bring six Cobras and three Hueys to the base.

Some of the other buildings the Marine squadron will renovate as part of their relocation here include Bldgs. 2066, 2067, 2065 and 2061. The buildings will be modified to include areas such as armament rooms, a simulator and administrative areas needed by the Marine unit. Some ordnance storage buildings will also be renovated for use by the Marine unit.