NEW HANGAR AT AIR WING BASE TO HOST THE NEWLY ACQUIRED

KING AIR B 200 AIRCRAFT

A new hangar to host the newly acquired King Air B 200 aircraft covering a

footprint of approximately 40 x 22 metres has been constructed. The

structure has been designed and protected with a 1 hour fire rating whereas

all hangar walls abutting the structure from the exterior have a fire

resistance of 2 hours.

The building which has been erected by using structural steel includes a

workshop area, plant room, sanitary facilities, a water reservoir for fire

fighting, a separate reservoir for secondary water, an oil interceptor and

cesspit. The main door of the hangar has a clear opening of 39 metres in

width and a minimum clear height of 6 metres and moreover an overhead

travelling crane has also been installed.

The investment which has been carried out to improve the ground facilities

at Air Wing was partly financed 75% from the European Union’s external

border funds whilst the remaining 25% were contributed from National

funds.

Construction of New Hangar No.4 Circa Euro

1.9M to host the newly acquired 2 King Air B200

Aircrafts

75% EU Funds + 25% National Funds

Structural Appraisal of ex-RAF Hangar, Luqa

Historical Background

The AFM hangar was built in the 1941-42 period under AOC Air-Vice Marshall H.P. Lloyd

to accommodate one of the Wellingtons present at the time-amongst other aircraft. According

to his own book “Briefed to Attack” he mentioned the fact that it took 200 men, 28 days to

build one of these large blast-pens=50,400 man hours! From Robert Camilleri Archives the

pen in question (circled yellow) is clearly seen. The one circled orange is the fire section’s

shed-clearly seen already roofed over. These unique structures represent the only blast pens

still standing from a total of about 358 strewn all over the three main Airfields (Luqa, Hal Far

and Ta’Qali) and the three satellite Airfields (Safi, Qrendi and Xewkija-Gozo) that existed in

1943.

The other photo shows a similar hangar with a 37 Sqn Lancaster-like the one that crashed at

Luqa village in December 1952.

Program of Works - POW

· Removal of existing roof sheeting.

· Removal of existing sliding doors.

· Removal of existing door frame.

· Provide temporary shoring

· Breaking up of concrete to expose head of existing steel trusses.

· Removal of purlins and fly bracing

· Removal of trusses.

· Removal of later masonry works, i.e. masonry piers introduced to support trusses and

infill masonry courses between masonry pen and roof structure on sides and eaves.

· Preparation of foundations for steel columns.

· Placing of steel columns

· Reinstatement of trusses on steel columns.

· Placing of new hat purlins and fly bracing

· Placing of insulated roof sheeting

· Breaking up of existing internal floor and preparation of new floor

· Assembly of door truss

· Fixing of glazing panels

· Restoration of Masonry Works

Description of Project

The project consisted in both refurbishment and

construction works

These included:

Hangar refurbishment and height extension

Construction of additional floor to military building

Construction of additional floor to offices

Refurbishment of Nissen hut

Landscaping works

IMPROVING THE ARMED FORCES OF MALTA (AFM)

GROUND SUPPORT FACILITIES AT AIR WING (AW) - REFURBISHMENT

AND UPGRADE USING ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY CONSTRUCTION

MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS OF EX-RAF HANGAR AND ANCILLARY

FACILITIES – CIRCA EURO 2M –TO HOST THE NEWLY ACQUIRED 2

AUGUSTA WEST LAND 139

AVIONICS BUILDING DEMOLISHING &

RECONSTRUCTION

ADDITIONAL FLOOR ON ANNEX TO HANGAR 2

CREW ROOM

AVIATION WAREHOUSE REFURBISHMENT

RAF HANGAR SCOOPS PRIZE

FOR ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE

Architectural Heritage, 2014 certified that the design team has been awarded the

Prix d'Honneur for the outstanding and significant contribution to Maltese cultural

heritage and to the achievement of excellence in the admirable restoration and

conservation of the Ex-RAF Hangar, co-financed under EBF 2012.

QUESTIONS?