Team McConnell builds permanent float

  • Published
  • By Airman Armando A. Schwier-Morales
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  For the past four weeks Airmen of the 22nd Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight and one Airman from the 22nd Operations Support Squadron have been busy on completing the Team McConnell Parade Float.

For the last few years, McConnell's float was usually a borrowed trailer that had to be built and taken apart every time before and after a parade happened. This was a hassle considering that there are approximately five parades that McConnell participates in every year in the local area.

This lead to the opportunity to purchase a new trailer Sep. 2009 and the fabrication flight took the challenge to bend, twist, paint, weld and bolt a permanent trailer for McConnell.

"We are the only squadron that has the skills, tools and manpower to build the float in one place," said Senior Master Sgt. Daniel Stipanuk, 22nd MXS fabrication flight chief.

One Airman from the 22nd OSS built safety netting for the float and an Airman from the 931st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron helped fabricate panels for the tail section of the float.

Along with having the necessary resources to build the float the fabrication flight took the opportunity to support a Ready Base.

"The skills needed to construct the float provided an opportunity to train our younger Airmen in the structural maintenance and metals technology section while also supporting a Ready Base by training and building a quality product," said Sergeant Stipanuk.

In addition to the training, the project allowed the Airmen to have a sense of being part of something bigger.

I worked on the float to be part of something larger than myself and to display just what my shop can do, said Airman 1st Class Gage Stiltner, 22nd MXS aircraft structural maintenance journeyman.

Airman Stiltner drew, colored and painted the message of thanks on the float.

"The squadron built the float to help the base spread its message that McConnell appreciates the support that they give to Airmen and the base," said Sergeant Stipanuk.

Along with extending gratitude to the local community the float construction allowed McConnell to save significant amount of money.

"Taking the trailer to a professional shop outside the base would have cost around $10,000 for the welding, fiberglass work, painting, sheet metal work and the rest of the work we did," said Sergeant Stipanuk. "However, by building it here not only did we save money but we developed and trained our Airmen for about 30 days."

The Airmen that saved money, trained each other and worked on this float took many hours out of their already busy schedule to build the finished product, said Sergeant Stipanuk.

The float construction was completed in time for the Riverfest parade on May 7, where the Airmen that helped build the float were able ride alongside their hard work, said Sergeant Stipanuk.

These where the key Airmen that helped build the float:
2nd Lt. Deanna Wilkes, 22nd MXS fabrication flight commander, was the officer in charge for the project.

Structural Maintenance Section:
Tech. Sgt. Walter Hall - Aircraft Structural Maintenance Assistant NCOIC - Coordinated material purchases with off base vendors, Lead Float Painter
Staff Sgt. Devin Street - Aircraft Structural Maintenance Craftsman - Activated reservist from the 931st ARG - manufactured panels for the tail section
Senior Airman Katie Callen - Aircraft Structural Maintenance Journeyman - Applied decals and lettering
Airman 1st Class Gage Stiltner - Aircraft Structural Maintenance Journeyman - Float painter
Airman 1st Class Peter Stanko - Aircraft Structural Maintenance Journeyman - Float painter

Metals Technology Section:
Tech. Sgt. John Quinn - Aircraft Metals Technology Swing Shift Supervisor - welded frame sides, fastened sheet metal on sides and mounted tail to trailer.
Tech. Sgt. Steven Ashurst - Aircraft Metals Technology Swing Shift Supervisor - weld framed sides, fastened sheet metal on sides and mounted the tail to trailer.
Staff Sgt. Christopher Jones - Aircraft Metals Technology Craftsman - welded frame sides, fastened sheet metal on sides and mounted tail to trailer.
Staff Sgt. David Dunlevy - Aircraft Metals Technology Craftsman - welded frame sides, fastened sheet metal on sides and mounted tail to trailer
Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fry - Aircraft Metals Technology Craftsman - welded frame sides, fastened sheet metal on sides and mounted tail to trailer.
Staff Sgt. Gary Loyd - Aircraft Metals Technology Mid Shift Supervisor - welded frame sides, fastened sheet metal on sides, and mounted tail to trailer.
Staff Sgt. Steven Kosmicki - Aircraft Metals Technology Craftsman - welded frame sides, fastened sheet metal on sides and mounted tail to trailer.
Senior Airman Chase Splichal - Aircraft Metals Technology Journeyman - welded frame sides, fastened sheet metal on sides and mounted tail to trailer.
Senior Airman Richard Duffner - Aircraft Metals Technology Journeyman - coordinated design with Airman and Family Readiness Center and Public Affairs.
Senior Airman John Robinson - Aircraft Metals Technology Journeyman - welded frame sides, fastened sheet metal on sides and mounted tail to trailer.
Airman 1st Class Danteryail Herron - Aircraft Metals Technology Apprentice - welded frame sides, fastened sheet metal on sides and mounted tail to trailer.
Airman 1st Class Jonathon Davis - Aircraft Metals Technology Apprentice - welded frame sides, fastened sheet metal on sides and mounted tail to trailer.
Airman 1st Class Michael Meaux - Aircraft Metals Technology Apprentice - welded frame sides, fastened sheet metal on sides and mounted tail to trailer.
Airman 1st Class Nicholas Freitas - Aircraft Metals Technology Apprentice - welded frame sides, fastened sheet metal on sides and mounted tail to trailer.

Operations Life Support Section:
Staff Sgt. Tracey Holderfield - Life Support Craftsman - fabricated safety netting for the float entry point.