F-22 facility nears completion

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tonnette Thompson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Construction workers broke ground on a 350,000 square-foot Sheppard lot along Missile Road in February 2005.

The idea was to erect a building designed to provide Sheppard Airmen-in-training a location for concentrated instruction on the Air Force's newest tactical fighter - the F-22 aircraft.

Now, nearly two years later, with the last coat of paint drying on the walls and the floors almost completely tiled and carpeted, the first wave of final inspections on
Bldg. 1065 is just a week away.

"It'll still be a while before it's ready," said Joann Johnson, a plans and programs analyst at the 82nd Training Wing. "Once the building is accepted by [the 82nd Civil
Engineer Squadron,] the trainers will start coming in."

The courses offered will focus on crew chief duties, avionics, weapons, egress and fuels systems, and the F-22 engines. The 361st, 362nd, 363rd and 365th Training Squadrons will train there.

Along with numerous classrooms, the building's bays will feature maintenance training devices to provide hands-on familiarity with the F-22's components. Models will include the landing gear, armament, cockpit and forward fuselage, the fuels system and a model of the F-119 Pratt & Whitney jet engine.

"Other weapon systems taught here at Sheppard are performed in different training groups, squadrons and facilities. The F-22 building has been designed with a new philosophy in mind to perform all F-22 initial skills training in one facility," said
Rick Engle, an equipment manager at the 82nd Training Group.

While the Lockheed Martin Corp. oversaw the project, the Boeing Co. contributed to the building's basic design, and will provide upkeep for the maintenance training devices and the building's computer system, which will interface with Boeing's intranet.

"The F-22 site activation at Sheppard has been a very well coordinated effort by
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney and all of the various United States Air
Force organizations. This effort would not be where it is today without the successful partnership developed between all involved personnel. The F-22 technical training philosophy is truly cutting edge here at Sheppard Air Force Base," Mr. Engle said.

Training in Bldg. 1065 is scheduled to begin in January 2008.