All On Board
In our last issue of the "T-Hanger Times" we described record levels of hangar construction throughout the country. Nothing has happened over the last six months to diminish that activity. In fact, the demand for additional hangar space has continued to soar.
There are several significant influences behind this surge. Most noteworthy, of course, is the general state of our domestic economy. As the stock market continues to climb, so does discretionary spending on luxury homes, automobiles, and airplanes. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported the strongest first quarter billings in its history and the highest first quarter unit shipments since 1984 for general aviation aircraft manufacturers.
The age of the hanger population is another contributing factor. T-Hangars were first constructed in significant numbers during the 1960's. Many of these buildings were furnished with wood frames and sliding doors and without the stronger, more durable materials used today. As a result, these 30 to 40 year old hangars are being replaced with building featuring all steel framework, long-lasting galvalume and pre-painted sheeting, and electric bifold doors.
The result of this activity to hangar buyers is longer then usual lead times for building deliveries. We are presently quoting lead times of eighteen weeks. Industry-wide, lead times have stretched to as long as thirty weeks this year. Hangar developers and specifiers need to factor these lead times into their projects and order buildings as early in the process as possible.
A primary cause of longer lead times is the crunch to ship buildings in the summer and fall months, especially in northern climates. Lead times can be significantly reduced by sequencing projects to accept building deliveries through the winter and early spring.

Meet the Staff
Natalie Hajba joined our staff in 1997 as our Office Manager and is likely to be the first person you speak with when you call Fulfab. In addition to fielding all incoming calls, she processes all of our correspondence and handles the bookkeeping chores.
Natalie has an Associates Degree in Accounting/Administration and has some twenty years experience in accounting for manufacturers.
She was born in Canton, Ohio, and lives in a nearby rural community with her husband David. They have two sons, Daniel, who is a junior studying Computer Engineering at the University of Toledo and Michael, who is a junior at Lake High School. The family enjoys vacationing at the beach and the "guys" give Mom a break every year when they go fishing for a week to a family owned cabin in Matheson, Ontario, Canada. When not attending to her family she enjoys socializing with friends and attending and participating in church functions.

Featured Project
The most recent indication of the resurgence of Akron-Fulton International Airport (AKR) in Akron, Ohio includes a twenty unit Fulfab Model LK42 T-Hangar.
The City of Akron along with the State of Ohio and the FAA have already invested over five million dollars, with more to come, to enhance approaches, extend runways, and install precision approach instrumentation. These improvements have enticed many private, corporate, and student pilots to relocate to this City-owned airfield.
The recently completed hangar facility, Airspace Place, was developed as a condominium project by local private investors. Engineer and pilot Rick Briggs spearheaded the project, which also houses his Mooney 201. In addition to the twenty T-Hangars, a Flight Planning Center was constructed with amenities such as DUATS computer equipment, DTN satellite weather service, Unicom radio, telephones, restroom and kitchen facilities, a conference room, lounge and patio areas, and even a putting green! The center has twenty-four hour key card access and security camera monitoring.
The individual units are equipped with full-height partitions and 3" vinyl-backed fiberglass roof insulation. Each unit also has individual electric, telephone, television, natural gas, and water service. Intercoms connect all hangars and the Flight Planning Center, while Unicom radio can be heard in each unit. Not surprisingly, these units sold quickly and Airspace Place plans to break ground shortly on an eight unit project to accommodate larger twins, with another twenty unit building planned for 2000.
Rick Briggs worked closely with our engineering staff and erection crew throughout the course of the job and offered the following commentary on his experience:
"As the general contractor, I was impressed by Fulfab's engineering department and the high degree of attention to detail. Because the building included many amenities not typically found in a standard hangar, a lot of additional planning and approvals were required prior to construction, with plumbing, heating, electrical, etc. Throughout this project, Bob Oates and his staff were right there to make design changes and provide blueprints as needed. The end result is a high quality building which we are confident will provide years of service.
Unfortunately we could not start construction until mid January when the weather was cold and snowing with freezing rain, but we had a great erection phase anyhow. Ron Rohr and his crew were professional in every way with a very systematic method. The crew worked well as a team. It was obvious they have erected a hangar or two before.
We look forward to working with Fulfab in the future phases of our development."

Ten Components of a Quality T-Hangar Project
Specifiers and private developers often ask us to recommend those factors most critical towards building a first-rate T-Hangar project. To follow is a list of ten items we consider important to look for in any T-Hangar package, which if present, will go a long way towards providing a durable, attractive and functional building which will serve its users effectively for decades to come.

Integral System - A building and door package supplied by one manufacturer is preferable. A single source of supply guarantees compatibility of the sliding or bifold doors with the building and eliminates disputes over responsibility for problems between suppliers. Door and building components from separate suppliers need to be thoroughly researched for previous successful applications.

Experience - Prior successes with T-Hangar projects by both the manufacturer and erector should be prerequisite. Ask for previously completed jobs with references to verify the qualifications of those proposing on your job.

Foundation and Floor - The correct choice and construction of the foundation and floor will be critical to the success of any project. Traditional pier foundations vs. thickened slabs and concrete vs. asphalt floors are typical decisions to be made. Proper sloping, notching and saw cutting of these surfaces will also be important details to specify.

Drainage - This topic was covered in depth in our Spring '98 issue, but cannot be over-emphasized. Proper notching and/or sloping of the hangar floor and approach areas play the biggest role in effective drainage. Building features to look for include a roof overhang beyond door faces, effective weather-stripping at the base of doors and walls and wall sheeting designed to terminate below the elevation of the finished floor.

Galvanized Steel - Whenever practical, we recommend you specify galvanized steel be used in place of uncoated steel with a primer painted finish. Galvanized steel provides superior resistance to rust in addition to a brighter more attractive appearance. Although heavier structural members are difficult and costly to galvanize after fabrication, secondary structural components such as roof purlins, wall girts, columns, and door framing can be easily and cost effectively produced from pre-galvanized material.

Exterior Sheeting - Industrial grade, high-strength 26 gauge sheeting is standard among better quality building manufacturers. Roof sheeting should have a galvalume finish with an acrylic protective coating and carry a 20 year warranty. Exterior wall and door sheeting should be supplied with a pre-painted, polyester paint system applied over a galvalume substrate also carrying a 20 year warranty.

Interior Partitions - Highest strength, 29 gauge galvanized or galvalume pressed rib panels should be specified. The preferred partition height is from floor level to the underside to the roof deck. This is accomplished by furnishing specially designed flashing at the roof line to completely secure and bird-proof individual units.

Condensation Control - T-Hangars are prime targets for condensation and, because they house expensive aircraft, need protection to prevent the harmful effects of this process. Condensation can damage paint finishes and instruments of a tenant's aircraft. It will also promote corrosion of the building's components. Ventilation devices, blanket roof insulation with a laminated vapor barrier and galvanized building components, as discussed above, will eliminate most of the effects of condensation.

Electrical Design - Most hangars are equipped with basic 110V electrical service for lighting and receptacles. Bifold door hangars require 220V service to operate the doors. It is critical to specify sufficient amperage to service the entire building. In addition to multiple receptacles and lights in each unit, office areas should be considered as well as exterior security lighting.

Office Areas - Multiple options are available to customize these areas and maximize your return on investment. The two corner units are one-half the size of a full unit and can be finished off as restrooms, flight schools, or general office space. This space can also be left unfinished and partitioned off to allow adjacent tenants additional space. Overhead doors, bifold doors, personnel doors, and windows can all be installed in these areas to meet the customer's needs.

While this list is certainly not all-inclusive, it does address the more critical components of any T-Hangar project. Feel free to contact any of us listed below to discuss your next T-Hangar project.
To contact us at Fulfab call (800) 274-0144 and ask for: Jeff Plum, Bob Oates, Mike Paris, or Marlene Habony. Our representative John Schussler, AAE, CCIM of Hangar Development Services can be reached at (901) 624-7110.

Maintenance Guide & Checklist

We recommend that you inspect and lubricate your Fulfab T-Hangars and bifold doors at regular six month intervals. Reproduced above is our maintenance checklist with procedures that should be performed on each bifold door hangar unit.

Each procedure is referenced on the checklist with a drawing number which will help you to locate the parts requiring your attention. We can provide copies of these drawings to you free of charge.

Any worn or damaged parts should be reported and replacement parts secured before the doors are used further. Fulfab maintains a complete stock of replacement parts.