916th marks end of $23 million project
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on August 14, 2009 1:51 PM
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News-Argus/GREG SOUSA
David "Doc" Glisson, site manager for Flight Safety Services Corp., is seen inside the cockpit of the new KC-135R Stratotanker flight simulator this morning.
A ceremony held at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base this morning formally marked the completion of a $23 million project recommended by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2005.
The 916th Air Refueling Wing now has three new facilities -- a squadron operations building, simulator building and corrosion-control hangar -- courtesy of Daniels and Daniels Construction Co.
The facilities were built to support the 916th's new active-duty unit, the 911th Air Refueling Squadron, a group of 60 full-time and 104 part-time airmen activated in line with another BRAC recommendation.
Dozens of officials from the Goldsboro and Wayne County military affairs community joined base leaders and airmen for the ceremony.
916th Commander Col. Fritz Linsenmeyer thanked those on hand for their support and called Daniels and Daniels "a five-star team all the way."
He then turned to members of the units who will utilize the facilities.
"This building is for you. The command knows how it's done right and it's right here at Seymour Johnson," he said.
After a ribbon-cutting, those in attendance were broken up into groups to tour the facilities, which include a state-of-the-art KC-135R Stratotanker simulator, a system that recreates everything from take-off to landing.
Officials said the simulator -- a multimillion-dollar system that will reduce costs associated with actual flying and give air crew members a place to fine-tune their skills -- is expected to be fully operational by next month.
Those who turned out for the event also got to see the new corrosion-control hangar, a facility that will be used for heavy maintenance work on the 916th's KC-135 fleet and can also be used when an aircraft needs to be washed or painted.