What Is a Military Hangar and Why Does It Matter?

The military hangar is an important place to house and protect aircraft for various purposes, including storage, inspections, and maintenance. All these tasks will ensure that the airplanes stay in a good state and are ready for military needs at any time.

To better fulfill the functions mentioned above, this kind of protective aircraft shelter often has a large size and a relatively complex design. You might think that it is challenging to construct.

However, with advanced techniques, like prefabricated aluminum alloy structure, the hangar can be easily set up and put into use quickly. Compared with the traditional concrete hangar, it is also more affordable and flexible.  

Here in this blog, we will discuss what is exactly a military hangar and why it is so important. And of course, there are several essential tips for you to find a professional, trustworthy military hangar supplier. So, keep reading this article, and you'll find the perfect solution for your military aircraft hangar.

6 Benefits of Military Hangar

The functionality of a military hangar can never be overlooked. And it is usually embodied in its striking benefits as follows.

Provide Protective Aircraft Shelter

One of the practical applications of a military hangar is to be used as a safe shelter for the aircraft and protect them from harsh weather conditions like intense UV rays, heavy rains, snow, and other environmental factors like humidity or high temperature.

These factors will take their toll on the surface of the airplanes gradually and cause harmful damage to their actual applications in military operations.

The sturdy structure of this protective aircraft shelter contributes a lot to its stability. Commonly, the hangar is composed of two parts: a roof and a strong framework. The roof is usually an A-frame, polygonal, or TFS. And the frame is often made of robust materials such as aluminum alloy or galvanized steel.

Such a brilliant combination ensures the overall stability, so the military airplane hangar can stand firmly on the ground even face of strong winds or rain. 

At the same time, the cover, or the tarp, is highly resistant to tearing or cracking. It is often made of opaque PVC, usually the 850GSM or 950GSM one. This tough material means that it won't be easily broken even if it is long exposed to harsh outdoor environmental conditions.

Designed for Long-term

The military aircraft hangar is not a disposable structure. Instead, it is designed for long-term use. At Sheltent, the hangar's framework is crafted from aluminum alloy and secured with steel fasteners. These are durable, corrosion-resistant materials that significantly enhance the military hangar's longevity.

The structure's durability is also strengthened by the use of a PVC cover. It is capable of withstanding harsh UV rays and strong wind, snow, rain, etc. With proper care and regular maintenance, the hangar can last up to 20 years. 

Generally, long-term use requires a reliable anchoring system - one of the most crucial reinforcement measures in fastening shelters to the ground. Aircraft hangars are usually secured with load-bearing base plates or embedded bolts.

In some cases, military aircraft manufacturers may even provide customized anchoring solutions based on the local ground conditions to ensure long-term stability and performance. 

Efficient Space Utilized for Multi-purpose

Another striking advantage of military airplane hangars is that they offer spacious areas for various purposes. Generally, their inner space is 100% usable. The dimensions of the hangar are often perfectly designed according to the types and sizes of the airplanes and some functional areas, if needed, thus able to house multiple military aircraft at a time and help them easily move in and out.

In addition, the inner space is often divided into different functional areas to enhance overall utilization efficiency. The interior of a military hangar should be organized and well planned to offer sufficient space to store aircraft and conduct regular maintenance on them.

There are also areas designed to store weapons and equipment, work as command centers, as well as refuel the airplanes. This layout would significantly maximize space utilization and workflow.

Highly Customizable

Apart from serving as a long-term protective shelter for multiple uses, the military hangar is also highly customizable. Many suppliers will be passionate about offering customizable options for you, as it can help tailor the structure to your specific needs and requirements. 

You can customize the hangar by designating its basic specifications, such as color, shape, and size. And if you want to go further, you can also customize the walls and doors of the hangar. 

Moreover, the roof and other accessories can also be customized. You can choose either a white or transparent cover top. To make the whole structure more efficient, additional facilities, such as an entrance ramp, wooden floors, reinforced beams, and ventilation fans, can be customized and added, too.

Privacy 

Privacy is a crucial yet may be underestimated advantage of military aircraft hangars. These enclosed structures provide essential secrecy for sensitive operations and equipment management.

The fully covered design ensures that the structure completely hides all aircraft and equipment inside, so their types, numbers, and maintenance conditions cannot be easily observed. Such a concealment keeps aircraft safe from prying eyes like satellites, drones, or high-altitude surveillance. 

Quick Entry and Exit

Aircraft hangars are designed with pre-planned entry and exit routes and doors. This feature is valuable for both combat missions and daily operational readiness. It enables fighter jets to scramble for emergency takeoffs to respond to sudden threats in the shortest possible time.

What's more, inside the hangar, multiple aircraft parking positions are systematically arranged in their designated spots. Together, they create an orderly and efficient management system that ensures rapid deployment. 

Some Limitations of Military Hangar

Though the military aircraft hangar has long been a vital facility in the military industry, it does have some limitations. Here are a few things that you need to consider before setting up one:

High Cost

Military aircraft hangars differ significantly from regular recreational tents or shelters in terms of cost. They are constructed with heavy-duty materials and produced on a massive scale. The materials must be exceptionally sturdy and durable to meet rigorous military specifications. So it naturally drives up expenses. 

Moreover, compared with normal tents used in daily life, military hangars also incur greater maintenance expenses. And any customized features or specialized modifications will further increase the total investment required.

🎈You May Also Like: How Much Does It Cost to Build a 60x60 Hangar?

Complex Design

Military aircraft hangars often present certain design complexities. Typically, these structures have large-scale dimensions and come in various types to fit in different military scenarios. To house aircraft of different types and sizes, the design of military hangars must achieve perfect spatial optimization. Therefore, the configurations of common hangars are often sophisticated.

Strict Military Safety Standards

Military aircraft hangars must comply with strict safety standards related to structural integrity, fire/explosion prevention, environmental control, security protocols, and operational procedures. These requirements often vary depending on the country, military branch, and specific hangar purpose.

But basically, in terms of its structure, the hangar should at least be able to withstand earthquakes, resist explosions, and support heavy equipment loads. Given that they store highly sensitive materials like aircraft, fuel, ammunition, and precision instruments, some exceptional fire protection measures must be taken. This makes the use of flame-retardant materials a necessary part of its design and manufacturing. 

Tips for Military Aircraft Hangar Design

Due to the requirement of high precision, the military aircraft hangar should be carefully designed. It involves several factors, including:

• Consider the Airplane Size
  

It's better to design and produce a military aircraft hangar according to the specific conditions of the airplanes. For example, the wingspan, length, width, and frequency of takeoffs are important things to consider before building a hangar for it.

• Plan the Layout of Inner Space
  

Although the inner space is large and able to accommodate multiple planes and facilities, it still needs to be carefully arranged to divide areas for different purposes. It is important to keep everything organized under it to promote the space utilization rate.

• Design the Door of the Hangar
  

The doors of military hangars are key to their design. They are helpful in creating a more enclosed environment to store aircraft and weapons. There are different types of doors for a hangar. Commonly, the options include clamshell, sliding, and rolling doors, and all of them are highly customizable. 

• Allow It to Be Easily Extended
  

Flexibility is a crucial consideration in military aircraft hangar design. This feature allows you to freely extend the hangar to accommodate more aircraft and dispatch them to fulfil military tasks at any time. To achieve this, modular construction is an effective method. The prefabricated modular units can be easily connected and expanded to adapt to your military hangar needs.

• Use Durable Materials
  

As these hangars are widely used in the military industry, they have to be crafted from sturdy materials. The options usually include concrete, steel, aluminum alloy, etc. Each of them performs well in constructing such a sophisticated shelter, but the most recommended one is sure aluminum alloy due to its lightweight and super resistance to corrosion.

Sheltent Create the Best Military Hangar

To simplify the whole process, finding a reliable airplane hangar supplier is key. Among various portable hangar manufacturers, Sheltent is a top choice. It has become a business partner with nearly 10 years of experience and has accomplished more than 1000 projects since its establishment.

In Sheltent, we offer a wide range of customizable options. You can personalize the doors, designs, and spans to create a unique hangar that just perfectly matches your particular needs. Apart from the customization service for the basic specifications of the shelter, Sheltent also allows you to equip additional facilities like lighting and HVAC systems to promote overall practicality. 

All of the hangars from Sheltent are exceptionally flexible in their design. To adapt to various purposes, they can be expanded and connected with little effort because of their modular design. So even if you have to adjust or replace some of the parts, it won't cost you too much time and labor cost.

Plus, military hangars are prefabricated in the factory. Nearly all components are pre-made and ready for assembly. You can save a lot of effort on the installation of such a portable hangar. Meanwhile, when no longer needed, these portable aircraft hangars can also be quickly disassembled, carried, transported, and stored in specific areas.

Sheltent always chooses those highly durable materials to make aircraft hangars. For example, the PVC coats of Sheltent's military hangar have a thickness of 0.65mm. This double-layer UV-resistant PVC cover can withstand 100% ultraviolet rays, pouring rain, and heavy snow.

The whole structure is composed of a 6061-T6 aluminum alloy frame and galvanized Q235 steel fasteners. These features enable hangars to stand still, even confronted with winds up to 120 km/h.

Conclusion

Now you may have got the answer to the questions: what is a hangar, and why is it so crucial? Understanding the definition and benefits of military hangars can be pretty easy, but choosing the right aircraft hangar requires you to take a deeper look at its limitations and some key aspects of its design and production.

If you are looking for a portable hangar that can be quickly used in military settings, the process doesn't have to be so complicated. You need to pick a loyal supplier first and tell them all your needs, then they will formulate a well-rounded plan and offer an ideal solution for you.

In this field, Sheltent is an expert. Head to us when you need customizable services and professional support for installing an aircraft hangar!