Tennessee Guard moves, prepares for C-5s
by Tech. Sgt. David A. Jablonski
Air Force Print News
9/28/2004 - WASHINGTON -- Air Force officials signed a land-exchange agreement with the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority on Sept. 20 allowing the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 164th Airlift Wing more space to convert from C-141B Starlifters to C-5 Galaxys.
Fred Kuhn, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, signed the agreement that calls for the airport authority to provide the Tennessee ANG with 118 acres to build three new hangars and support facilities. In exchange, the airport authority will allow Federal Express officials to lease the existing 103 acres of the 164th AW site from them. The ANG property is now located in the midst of FedEx operations.
“This truly is a wonderful example of the kind of results we can expect when the local community, government officials and the nation’s military come together to implement mutually beneficial solutions,” Mr. Kuhn said.
“The Air Force’s operational and training mission for the C-5 was the primary consideration,” he said. “The relocation will ensure the construction of new facilities that will be able to accommodate the C-5 Galaxy.”
The 164th AW will move from the north side of the airport to the southeast corner. The existing site is landlocked and barely supports the current mission, officials said. There would have been no room to bed down the full complement of eight C-5s on the site without violating airfield clearances and anti-terrorism and force-protection standards.
Air National Guard officials plan to convert the 164th AW from the C-141 to the C-5 because of the Air Force’s increased buy of C-17 Globemaster IIIs. As the Globemasters arrive, Galaxys transfer to Guard and Reserve units to replace the retiring Starlifters.
“As an integral part of the Air Force team, it is critical that the Air National Guard continue to upgrade and improve our weapon systems,” said Brig. Gen. David A. Brubaker, ANG deputy director.
“The 164th Airlift Wing conversion to C-5s is critical to our continued relevance to the overall mission,” the general said. “We are thankful that the airport authority and FedEx were willing to work with us on a solution for our conversion that will not only make the 164th more successful, but will make the airport and all its tenants more viable.”
New hangars, support facilities, an aircraft apron, a taxiway, and refueling systems for the C-5s are expected to be completed by December 2008. |
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