On Monday, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Delaware Air National Guard’s new Fuel Cell and Corrosion Control Hangar at its base in the New Castle area.
The hangar will replace the current facility, which was built in 1962 and does not fully enclose the C-130s based at the airport for maintenance. The new hangar is fully funded and is expected to be completed in January 2025. More than a half-dozen C-130s fly out of the base.
The state’s Congressional Delegation secured $17.5 million for the hangar construction in the fiscal 2022 government spending package. The National Guard and Army Reserve have received funding for upgraded facilities in the past several years.
Due to budget cuts and aging facilities, keeping the Air Guard’s C-130 turboprop aircraft at the air base-airport location has never been a certainty. Less than a decade ago, it was unclear whether the Air Guard would receive upgraded C-130s required for many missions, opening up the possibility that operations could move elsewhere.
The Air Guard shares Wilmington Airport with commercial aviation operations. President Biden regularly flies into the Air Guard base, usually on the Marine One helicopter. About 1,100 Guard members are stationed at the base. Activities include a medical unit that can convert the transport turboprops into flying ambulances.
“I am proud we were able to secure the majority of the funding for this crucial project to help Delaware’s Air National Guard be able to safely and efficiently maintain their C-130 aircraft,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper. “From my days as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Delaware National Guard to today, I am proud of the men and women who serve Delaware and our neighbors, and I will continue to make sure they have everything they need to be mission ready.”
“Our Delaware Air National Guard tirelessly serves our state and country every single day — I personally witnessed that dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic working side-by-side with many members,” said Delaware Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “I’m so thrilled that thanks to the hard work of our Congressional Delegation, the new Fuel Cell and Corrosion Control Hangar will set the Guard up for the future. As a wife of a veteran and daughter of a Guardsman, I know these investments are critical. The Governor and I are so excited to see this new hangar and look forward to the next steps.”
