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Air Force ‘workhorse’ gets new stable

A dedicated new maintenance hangar for No. 36 Squadron’s (36SQN’s) fleet of eight C-17A Globemasters, the ‘Air Force’s largest workhorse’, has been formally handed over to Defence at RAAF Base Amberley.

With 5000 square metres of floor space, the hangar can accommodate either a C-17A or a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport.

The purpose-built hangar facility comes complete with a logistics warehouse, maintenance workshop and a unique mobile docking system that makes it easier to access hard-to-reach places on the giant planes.

The new No. 36 Squadron C-17A transport aircraft hangar is officially opened by Leading Aircraftman Douglas Lovett and Senior Engineering Officer, Squadron Leader Evan Smith. Image Defence

Following project approval in 2015, construction of the hangar began in March 2017 and has been one of many significant infrastructure projects underway on base regularly awarded to local Defence Industry partners.

Group Captain (GPCAPT) Steve Pesce, Officer Commanding No. 86 Wing, said the hangar is a welcome addition.

“It’s hard to image a squadron without a hangar of its own, and a facility likes this makes the job of supporting eight C-17As much easier for 36SQN,” GPCAPT Pesce said.

“Until now, C-17A maintenance has been conducted inside the KC-30A hangar at RAAF Base Amberley, or on the tarmac in the open air.

“Having a hangar, maintenance workshop, and logistics warehouse under one roof makes the job of supporting the C-17A more efficient, and ensures the aircraft are more available for Defence tasking.”

The new No. 36 Squadron hangar facility for C-17A Globemaster maintenance will accommodate one C-17A aircraft parked nose in. Image: Defence

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