Moody Air Force Base


Location:	Valdosta, GA

Building Series:	Custom

Building Sizes:	(36) 106' wide x 58' long (32.2m x 17.6m) (18) 120' wide x 44' long (36.5m x 13.4m) (6) 65' wide x 44' long (19.8m x 13.4m)

Application:	Aircraft Shade Shelters

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The Need

In early 2003, the United States Air Force began investigating the construction of sunshade shelters at Moody Air Force Base to provide weather protection for a variety of aircrafts. The cumulative affects of snow, ice, hail, sun and heat have a negative impact on the condition of aircrafts thereby increasing maintenance costs. Additional flightline goals were to reduce cockpit temperatures for the pilots and improve working conditions for the maintenance crews.

Done typically in a steel building design, the Air Force surveyed companies with a GSA FSS contract for tension fabric structures. Summit Structures was among several candidates that met US Air Force requirements and was awarded the contract on best overall value, combination of price and quick delivery/installation.

The Project

Responding directly to the needs of the Air Force, Summit Structures designed, manufactured, delivered and installed custom shelters for T-6A and T-38C aircrafts within an impressive 90 days after the contract was awarded.

(36) 106' wide x 58' long (32.2m x 17.6m) Aircraft Sunshade Shelters
(18) 120' wide x 44' long (36.5m x 13.4m) Aircraft Sunshade Shelters
(6) 65' wide x 44' long (19.8m x 13.4m) Aircraft Sunshade Shelters

Summit Structures customized some of the standard tension fabric structure models for Moody AFB by integrating a steel I-beam sidewall and low profile roof truss. The cost for the shelters was considerably lower than previous shade shelters and allowed for conformity of parts, an element that was a key desire for the Air Force.

Summit Structures provided a complete turn key construction package by erecting the structures and managing the integration of the lightning protection system for each unit.

Custom Requirements

A blast shield was affixed to the bottom of the truss to protect the DuraWeave FR fabric from jet blast procedures. A new tensioning system was also designed to ensure the roof was 100 percent tensioned, eliminating any flaps or buffeting in the wind.

No foundation requirements were needed as the existing aprons were of sufficient strength and thickness to accommodate reaction loads.

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