D-M renovates 50-year-old Hawg Pride paint facility

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB, Ariz. --  Members of the 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron celebrated the completion of their newly renovated corrosion barn during a ribbon-cutting ceremony here Jan. 21.

The corrosion barn, originally an aircraft hangar built in 1958, is where more than 24 aircraft and several hundred pieces of equipment are painted annually. The aged facility required more than 2.3 million dollars to renovate due to outdated ventilation systems that needed constant repair and maintenance, inadequate lighting, and to meet Environmental Protection Agency air quality standards.

"Our Airmen have done an extraordinary job at producing a quality product for our customers despite the original conditions of this facility," said Col. Dennis Shumaker, the 355th Maintenance Group commander.  "The renovation efforts create a more efficient, start-to-finish operation that has an enormous impact on the final product."

To paint aircraft that have a wingspan upwards of 67 feet requires an environment that must be tightly controlled with regards to temperature and humidity. Prior to the upgrade a number of paint jobs, which can cost as much as $38,500 per aircraft, had to be redone because the building's infrastructure did not support the required climate control system or provide adequate lighting. Without proper lighting the technician's ability to apply paint evenly was hampered, and without effective climate control the aircraft were not able to properly cure.

"A number of man-hours were lost because of the environmental challenges this building presented our technicians, so this much needed renovation has created an enormous boost in morale," said Capt. Bobby Cheek, the 355th EMS Fabrication Flight Commander. "It just offers us a much cleaner, nicer work environment for our painters and allows them produce a better product and work in a facility that meets all codes and passes EPA air quality standards."