Tyndall holds “Topping Off” ceremony

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - A local military base continues to make strides toward the future. Earlier today Tyndall Air Force Base celebrated a huge milestone with one of its new facilities.

Tyndall held a “Topping Off” ceremony as Hensel Phelps Construction Company lodged the last steel beam for a new state-of-the-art hanger. This ceremony publicly recognizes the hard work of everyone involved in the construction process.

It’s tradition to sign the last beam before its installation. This new facility will serve as Hanger One and will not only house the new F35 jets. But officials said it will also come equipped with the materials needed to maintain the jets.

“Inside the hanger bay they can do anything from general maintenance to just housing,” said Derek Kelly the project manager of Hensel Phelps Construction. “There’s also support facilities for weapons load training and corrosion control from flying next to the Gulf of Mexico. The saltwater is very intrusive on these jets and the U.S Air Force needs to maintain their facilities.”

Hanger one will be located in zone one, which is the biggest and most critical aspect of this redevelopment process.