VR-56 Dedicates New Hangar, New Aircraft

By Cathy Heimer, Naval Air Station Oceana Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The "Globemasters" of Fleet Logistics Squadron (VR) 56 celebrated years of planning and work with the dedication of their new hangar and transition to their new aircraft during a ceremony at the NAS Oceana flightline May 30.

The squadron dedicated the 60,000 square foot hangar, as well as the completion of their transition from the C-9 aircraft to the C-40A Clipper.

The new air-conditioned facility, which includes accommodations for one C-40, all administrative, operations and maintenance areas, and a 4,500 square foot logistics support warehouse, is appropriately named "Hangar 56."

"It isn't every day that you have a brand new airplane and a brand new hangar to put it in," said NAS Oceana Commanding Officer Capt. Bob Geis, who spoke at the beginning of the dedication. "We couldn't be more excited to be a part of this transition and to have the new capability in the new hangar at NAS Oceana. We are very excited to continue the partnership with VR-56. They are great tenants who always step up to help around the base."

Geis told the audience that because of their mission, Globemasters is a fitting name for the squadron.

"The folks who fly the aircraft with the pointy noses around here should always know that without the supply train that VR-56 helps maintain, we have no ability to sustain combat operations. Just like U.S. Marine Corps Gen. [Robert H.] Barrow said, 'Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals study logistics.'"

VR-56 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Mike Gravitt thanked Geis and Oceana Executive Officer Capt. Kit Chope, Oceana Public Works Department, Boeing Company and Hourigan Construction representatives for their support throughout the aircraft transition and hangar construction.

"VR-56 knows how fortunate we are...with a brand new aircraft and state of the art facility," said Gravitt as he also thanked his Sailors for their hard work and professionalism during the months of transition and retraining on the new aircraft.

According to Oceana Public Works Officer Cmdr. Holly Johnson, planning began nearly 10 years ago for the new hangar. "We knew there was a new requirement for a new aircraft for VR-56 and when you're going to have a new airplane, you've got to put it somewhere, right?"

The initial plan called for the C-40 to be housed in hangar 200, where the Globemasters were previously located. But due to the size of C-40, the doors and roof would have needed to be modified on hangar 200. "It ended up not being that much more costly to build a new hangar than it would have been to raise the roof and modify those doors," said Johnson.

The funding of nearly $17.8 million was provided by the Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Program. Costs included the demolition and relocation of Oceana's Ground Support Equipment dispatch facility and parking apron.

"We consider ourselves very fortunate and very lucky to have the state of the art facility in a place where we can operate our plane organically - meaning our parts contractors are located in the hangar and the ability to house the entire command in one central location; basically one-stop shopping for all the servicing that we need," said Gravitt.

Gravitt explained another huge advantage is that being able to work on the C-40 inside the hangar bay. Sailors no longer need to work out in the elements when they are changing the configuration of the inside of the aircraft from all passengers to passengers and cargo or all cargo, depending on the mission.

"Whatever the Navy needs us to do, we can do that," said Gravitt. "With the vertical stabilizer in the ballpark of 42 feet, we had to have a hangar that we could fit it [the C-40] in."

The Globemasters will be the only squadron located in hangar 56, a welcome change from having to share maintenance and office spaces with F/A-18 squadrons in hangar 200. Other new features in hangar 56 are a large training room and an emergency generator.

As he prepared for his change of command on June, 2, the transition to the new aircraft and hangar is bittersweet for Gravitt, who first arrived at VR-56 as a lieutenant 12 years ago. "I wouldn't trade that opportunity to take the command from the old, which I've been a part of, to the new. I feel like I've been able to accomplish something extra for the command and give back a little bit and to work with a team of professionals," said Gravitt.

He again credited "his team of professionals" the Sailors at VR-56, in making both transitions easier. Although the new aircraft meant retraining at other fleet logistics squadrons across the U.S., "We were able to do the transition in five months time, which is significant," Gravitt said. He explained they were able to take the lessons learned from fellow fleet logistics squadrons, who completed the transition in six months to shorten their transition.

"Wonderful," is how Aviation Machinist's Mate (AD) 2nd Class Doniel Polk, who has been at VR-56 for four and one-half years, can sum up the new hangar.

"There's less cleanup. The brand new spaces are beautiful. They've put a lot of work into it. It's nice to have our own spaces, not have to share our spaces with other squadrons," said Polk.

Polk, who completed her training on the C-40 in Atlanta, said the new aircraft is very low maintenance for the AD shop. She can immediately rattle off a list of other advantages of the new aircraft including "new leather seats, more leg room. It's more advanced. Up in the cockpit, it's more digital. It's more comfortable...more room...more dependable."

"We're so proud to be part of this," said Andy Reheis, Navy programs manager for Boeing Company, which builds the C-40. The C-40A, a modified Boeing 737-700C, includes stronger landing gear and larger cargo compartment to meet the squadron's mission.

"It is the culmination of thousands and thousands of hours of work and dedication in preparation for today, on our part and it's really the biggest joy we have in supporting our fighting men and women," said Reheis. "It's really something we take home for people in the factories to say 'here's what you're doing to support our troops. They really resonate with that," said Reheis.

Reheis said the Navy currently has 12 C-40s, with the fleet expected to grow to 17 overall. Two of the aircraft are already at VR-56 and the third one is expected later this month. The C-40A is the first new logistics aircraft for the Naval Reserve in nearly 20 years.

C-40A Clippers to Replace C-9 as Navy's Newest Logistics Aircraft

US Navy Video Report on the Boeing C-40 Clipper replacing the Navy C-9 Skytrain logistic aircraft.
Click here for a video report => C-40A Clippers to Replace C-9 as Navy

VR-58 accepts new C-40A Clipper

By AWF2 Olana Wesley, Jax AirNews Staff Writer

The VR-58 “Sunseekers” brought a new C-40A Clipper aircraft from the Boeing facility in Wichita, Kan. to its temporary home at NAS Jacksonville Jan. 31.

This is the 11th C-40A aircraft that the Navy has purchased as part of its plan to replace and retire its aging C-9B Skytrain fleet.

The C-40A is a modified Boeing 737-700 that provides almost twice the range and twice the payload of the C-9B, at a lower overall cost.

The platform transition process began in 2001, when the first C-40A was delivered to VR-59 at NAS/Joint Reserve Base (JRB) Fort Worth, Texas.

Since then VR-59, VR-58 and VR-57 have transitioned to the C-40A aircraft. The VR-56 “Globe Masters,” based at NAS Oceana, will be the next squadron to transition from the C-9B to the C-40A; a six-to nine- month process that begins in May.

“Because there is no Fleet Replacement Squadron for the C-40A, the 200 pilots, aircrew and maintainers from VR-56 will receive their C-40A training at VR-57, VR-58 or VR-59 during the coming months,” explained Cmdr. Chris Fordham, commanding officer of VR-58.

AWFC(NAC/AW) Deyaniris Santiago of VR-58, who was part of the crew that accepted the aircraft from Boeing, said, “I believe it will be easier to train VR-56 sailors on the C-40A than earlier aircraft because use of the latest technology allows greater reliability and enables faster troubleshooting.”

Santiago is currently experiencing both sides of training herself, as she is a C-40A load master instructor and is also training to qualify as a crew chief.

Chris Derby, of the TSM Corpora-tion, a civilian contractor who works with VR-58 sailors in maintaining the C-40A, said enthusiastically, “I love this job. I‘ve been with this aircraft as a crew chief, maintenance chief and now as a contractor. I came back to this aircraft specifically because it is a part of me.” Derby, a retired Navy chief, has over 10 years of experience with the C-40A since becoming a Clipper crew chief when VR-59 made the first transition in 2001.

“Mr. Derby probably has the most C-40A experience of anyone who works on this aircraft,” said Fordham. “He trained over 70 crew chiefs and approximately 250 maintenance personnel on the C-40A while on active duty. We are very fortunate and very grateful to be able to continue to leverage his expertise in training VR-58’s and VR-56’s sailors.”

The “Sunseekers” expect to maintain and fly the aircraft for about a year. Once VR-56’s new hangar is completed, aircraft 166695 and two other C-40A’s from VR-59 and VR-57 will be transferred to the NAS Oceana-based squadron.

All Navy Fleet Logistics Support Squadrons report to Commander, Fleet Logistics Support Wing (CFLSW), based at NAS/JRB Fort Worth, Texas. CFLSW aircraft provide 100 percent of the Navy’s shore-based, fixed-wing airlift capability.

The Naval Air Logistics Office in New Orleans, La, along with other fleet authorities schedules operational tasking worldwide.