Hangar One at NAS Moffett…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
For all those ‘old’ aviators out there, there ‘is’ a possibility that the iconic Hangar One at NAS Moffett Field ‘may’ be saved.  

Hangar One was originally built 79 years ago for the blimps back in WWII, and it is on the National Historic Register.  However, due to the age and asbestos construction, it was deemed a hazard.  We closed the ‘base’ in 1993 and moved the squadrons out to Hawaii and NAS Whidbey Island, but due to the EPA, nothing was done with the buildings. NASA Ames took over the facilities, and the hangar basically sat and deteriorated…  

A little bit of ‘history’, until the VAB was built at the Cape, Hangar One was the largest freestanding (no internal supports) building in the world.

Now they are finally stripping all the asbestos and taking the building back to parade rest…


From the Mercury News in San Jose.

Hangar One, once home to the Navy’s giant airships at Moffett Field, finally has a few willing benefactors: Google’s top three executives have offered to salvage the historic landmark.

Ambrose and supporters of Hangar One’s restoration are eager for a response because the Navy is in the process of removing the old, contaminated skin from the giant building. That work should be completed by next summer, said Lenny Siegel, chairman of the subcommittee.
Without a covering, the hangar’s frame and foundation will be exposed to the elements. That’s a problem because there are toxic materials in the soil underneath the hangar that could leach out because of rain exposure, Siegel said. Additionally, the Navy has set up some $12 million worth of scaffolding to remove the hangar’s skin. If supporters are able to put a new covering on the hangar right after that process ends, that scaffolding can be left in place. If not, it will have to be removed and then replaced later at a cost of some $1 million to $2 million more, Siegel said.


Full article and more pictures HERE. 

As one of the literally thousands of Sailors that went through there, I really hope it does get saved!

Comments

Hangar One at NAS Moffett… — 5 Comments

  2. The hangers at NAS Tustin (later MCAS Tustin) in Southern California has two blimp hangers from the days when it was an LTA (lighter than air) facility. They’re still up even though the base was closed. I hope that they remain. They’re used as movie sets and they are a part of an elegant past.

  4. Murph- 😛 Not quite…

    LL- That they are.

    WSF- You can just drive on now, NASA Ames has the base an limited security. 🙂