Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
Wilmington, Del. — Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper, Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.), announced $17.5 million for the Delaware Air National Guard in support of a new Fuel Cell Corrosion and Control Hangar for their C-130 aircrafts.
The Senate Appropriations Committee recently passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 government spending package, which includes funding for all government agencies and programs through the end of Fiscal Year 2022. The package includes $97 million for key Delaware projects, with the largest amount of funding set to go to the Delaware Air National Guard.
“As a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, I understand the need to make sure our men and women that serve have everything they need to perform their operations. So that is why I – along with Delaware’s congressional delegation – fought so hard to bring this funding home to Delaware,” said Senator Carper. “I can’t wait for the day that finally, the Delaware Air National Guard will have a hangar space suitable for its C-130H aircraft, helping the Delaware National Guard stay competitive and mission ready.”
“I’m proud to be the first Delawarean in decades to serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee and help secure such crucial funding for projects in our state. This announcement reflects the tireless work of our congressional delegation and none of that funding may be more important than the $17.5M that is coming to the Delaware Air National Guard for a state of the art Fuel Cell and Corrosion Control hangar. The current hangar being utilized is antiquated and undersized, and can’t enclose the C-130 aircraft it’s meant to store,” said Senator Coons. “Today’s announcement is the culmination of a 20-year process, so while I regret that I could not attend today’s event, I look forward to joining Major General Berry and the Delaware Air National Guard once the new hangar is constructed.”
“Today’s announcement of $17.5 million from the recently passed government spending package for the Delaware National Guard is the culmination of years of hard work, collaboration, and tenacity,” said Congresswoman Blunt Rochester. “The new Fuel Cell and Corrosion Hangar at the New Castle County Airport will bring the facility up to date so it can continue to provide essential support to the Delaware National Guard and its future missions. I am honored to have worked with my team and my counterparts in the Senate, Senator Carper and Senator Coons, to secure this funding for the Guard for a new Hangar that in turn will make our state healthier, safer, stronger, and even more resilient.”
The Fuel Cell Corrosion Control hangar plays a critical role in sustaining the tactical airlift mission of the 166th Airlift Wing. More than a decade of delays in construction, funding for the new hangar forced the Delaware Air Guard’s maintainers to continue to use of a facility that is both antiquated and inadequate to accomplish the wing’s mission and maintain the Guard’s eight C-130 planes.
The current facility, built in 1962, does not fully enclose a C-130 aircraft, and the tail must be left outside the hangar bay. It also has limited shop area, is poorly insulated, and has single-pane windows and uninsulated walls and doors. The fire protection system is inadequate; the facility has other health and safety deficiencies. Ultimately, the facility does not meet force protection measures, and it cannot be expanded since it will interfere with the aircraft parking apron clearance.
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