Bringing down the house

A hydraulic excavator tears down a hangar door as part of on-going construction work, Dec. 9, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. Hangar 1106 is being demolished to prepare for a three-bay hangar that is scheduled to be built for the incoming KC-46A Pegasus. The new hangar is scheduled to be completed by 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class David Bernal Del Agua)

Demolition makes way for KC-46 hangar

Published Dec. 11, 2014
By Airman 1st Class David Bernal Del Agua
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Eleven doors on Hangar 1106 were torn down, Dec. 9, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.

The doors were removed to start construction of new KC-46A Pegasus hangars.

"The plan was executed without any flaws, and it worked out very well," said 1st Lt. Daniel Calvario, KC-46A Program Integration Office lead civil engineer. "Once all the doors are torn down, they will start the interior demolition of the hangar."

The construction process started this year in order to house the larger aircraft in new hangars. The new KC-46A is 15 percent bigger than the KC-135R and requires bigger hangars capable of storing it.

"The construction process preparing for the arrival of the KC-46A is going according to plan," said Master Sgt. Danny Rutland, KC-46A Program Integration Office maintenance representative. "The tear down of the hangar doors is a significant step to completing the job and welcoming the new aircraft."

The contractor is on schedule to finish in time and the construction is running smoothly, according to Calvario.

The first KC-46As are scheduled to start arriving at McConnell in 2016, and the new hangar is scheduled to be completed by 2017.