Here's a quick-and-dirty aerial. I'll add more detail later:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tinker.jpg

Probably want to highlight the expansion area on the east side of Douglas near 59th to the map as well, it only has a few hangers right now but provides more room to expand in the future.

http://www.okctalk.com/businesses-employers/28260-boeing.html

Thanks, too many subforums, so I wasn't looking in the right one.


Probably want to highlight the expansion area on the east side of Douglas near 59th to the map as well, it only has a few hangers right now but provides more room to expand in the future.

I am not completely sure, but I think those Hangars are actually owned by Boeing, not TAFB. Boeing announces opening of MROTC hangars in Oklahoma/ (http://okc.biz/2008/08/09/boeing-announces-opening-of-mrotc-hangars-in-oklahoma/)

I am not completely sure, but I think those Hangars are actually owned by Boeing, not TAFB. Boeing announces opening of MROTC hangars in Oklahoma/ (http://okc.biz/2008/08/09/boeing-announces-opening-of-mrotc-hangars-in-oklahoma/)

If you look at the quote “These two new hangars represent our continuing commitment to the partnership between Boeing, the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center and Oklahoma", it is almost surly a reference to that area is owned by the Oklahoma Industries Authority, while OIA probably would be open to Boeing to building their own facilities, the way taxes generally favor businesses renting space and certainly all the office spaces they have opened here in the last couple decades being rented instead of owned it seems more likely they would not actually own the property/buildings.

You know how rumors work, so take this with a grain of salt: I've heard that the switch from Air Refueling to Special Operations is a done deal. Sometime next year, if my information is correct, WRANGB should transition from ARW to AFSOC. This will drop a lot of AGR slots, which will be great for local Guard personnel who've been looking for work. Non-government employers tend to hesitate with Guard and Reserve folks, so many struggle with finding meaningful work. A bunch of AGR openings will be a huge help to these folks and to OKC.

Anyway, as I mentioned, take it all with a grain of salt. We'll just have to wait and see.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Again, I know this has little to do with Tinker, but the 137th Air Refueling Wing, located at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, should be transitioning to AFSOC some time this year. Very soon, the base will host the 137th Special Operations Wing, and its aircraft will be the MC-12. Further, I've learned that the base will be a regional training site for similar airframes and missions. This will bring a lot of out-of-towners to the area for training. With the transition to special operations and to a regional training center, the base is set to add a lot of job opportunities for the area.

Anyway, back to Tinker...

My apologies.

If you look at the quote “These two new hangars represent our continuing commitment to the partnership between Boeing, the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center and Oklahoma", it is almost surly a reference to that area is owned by the Oklahoma Industries Authority, while OIA probably would be open to Boeing to building their own facilities, the way taxes generally favor businesses renting space and certainly all the office spaces they have opened here in the last couple decades being rented instead of owned it seems more likely they would not actually own the property/buildings.
I have no idea who actually owns the facilities on the east side of Douglas Blvd.. I do know that the OCFD responds there for medical emergencies, etc. whereas they don't on TAFB.

Again, I know this has little to do with Tinker, but the 137th Air Refueling Wing, located at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, should be transitioning to AFSOC some time this year. Very soon, the base will host the 137th Special Operations Wing, and its aircraft will be the MC-12. Further, I've learned that the base will be a regional training site for similar airframes and missions. This will bring a lot of out-of-towners to the area for training. With the transition to special operations and to a regional training center, the base is set to add a lot of job opportunities for the area.

Anyway, back to Tinker...

My apologies.Very nice news for WRANGB since the 130s were BRAC'd out a few years back. Perhaps they'll be able to stand up a fully manned fire station again.

Again, I know this has little to do with Tinker, but the 137th Air Refueling Wing, located at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, should be transitioning to AFSOC some time this year. Very soon, the base will host the 137th Special Operations Wing, and its aircraft will be the MC-12. Further, I've learned that the base will be a regional training site for similar airframes and missions. This will bring a lot of out-of-towners to the area for training. With the transition to special operations and to a regional training center, the base is set to add a lot of job opportunities for the area.

Anyway, back to Tinker...

My apologies.

Oklahoma Air National Guard unit begins training for a new mission | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/article/5439362)

Tinker needs to land some of the newer air platforms for service contracts. What they work on is an aging fleet, and if we're not careful, we're going to age ourselves out of a purpose.

Tinker needs to land some of the newer air platforms for service contracts. What they work on is an aging fleet, and if we're not careful, we're going to age ourselves out of a purpose.

That's exactly what the KC-46 line about to be built will do.

Brianna's update.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/5441008&headline=Tinker%20Air%20Force%20Base%20aircraft%20 depot%20construction%20project%20is%20expected%20t o%20begin%20in%202016


MIDWEST CITY — Construction on a maintenance depot for the KC-46A Pegasus refueling aircraft is expected to begin next year at Tinker Air Force Base.

Construction on the first hangar will begin in 2016, and by 2019 the facility is projected to have 14 hangars to maintain a fleet of the aircraft, said Jody LeBlanc, chief of product integration for the KC-46. Boeing is developing the KC-46A for the U.S. Air Force and expects to ramp up production of the new aircraft by 2017.

In our hurry to get excited about some company that is bringing a few job to OKC, we often overlook the economic powerhouse and what it does for us. This article is about more than new jobs but that aspect of it is significant.

Amid Tinker Air Force Base hiring drive, Sen. Lankford asks questions on bureaucratic processes. | News OK (http://newsok.com/amid-tinker-air-force-base-hiring-drive-sen.-lankford-asks-questions-on-bureaucratic-processes./article/5457269)



WASHINGTON — Faced with an increasing workload and natural attrition, Tinker Air Force Base is trying to hire 1,000 people in 100 days for jobs at its sprawling aircraft maintenance center.




Base officials hope to have about 10,000 civilian workers at the Air Logistics Complex when the hiring push is over, up from 9,000 today.

In our hurry to get excited about a company that may bring a few new jobs to OKC, we often overlook this economic powerhouse. This article is about more than new jobs but that aspect of it is significant.

Amid Tinker Air Force Base hiring drive, Sen. Lankford asks questions on bureaucratic processes. | News OK (http://newsok.com/amid-tinker-air-force-base-hiring-drive-sen.-lankford-asks-questions-on-bureaucratic-processes./article/5457269)



WASHINGTON — Faced with an increasing workload and natural attrition, Tinker Air Force Base is trying to hire 1,000 people in 100 days for jobs at its sprawling aircraft maintenance center.




Base officials hope to have about 10,000 civilian workers at the Air Logistics Complex when the hiring push is over, up from 9,000 today.

A small demonstration of the almost incalculable economic impact of this facility...

Right now, there is $249,000,000 in construction contracts out for bid.

Every time I look, there seems to be hundreds of millions in construction dollars being spent out there.

The current $249MM itself is like half a MAPS.

A small demonstration of the almost incalculable economic impact of this facility...

Right now, there is $249,000,000 in construction contracts out for bid.

Every time I look, there seems to be hundreds of millions in construction dollars being spent out there.

The current $249MM itself is like half a MAPS.


A small demonstration of the almost incalculable economic impact of this facility...

Right now, there is $249,000,000 in construction contracts out for bid.

Every time I look, there seems to be hundreds of millions in construction dollars being spent out there.

The current $249MM itself is like half a MAPS.

You can say that again!

This is great and all...but I really wish they had built this downtown...

^
lololololololololololololololol

A small demonstration of the almost incalculable economic impact of this facility...

Right now, there is $249,000,000 in construction contracts out for bid.

Every time I look, there seems to be hundreds of millions in construction dollars being spent out there.

The current $249MM itself is like half a MAPS.

On a related note, construction jobs are up something like 6% in OKC Metro YoY (source) (http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.ok_oklahomacity_msa.htm). Which doesn't make sense at first glance given the state of the local economy, but I didn't realize the activity at Tinker.

^

There is still tons of construction of all types everywhere.

It seems to be increasing, not decreasing.


Could be a lag because many things were already in the pipeline, thus might not show for another year or so.

I think that a majority of that is lag. I've talked to a few friends in commercial construction and while they are still busy right now, the pipeline is not near as full as it has been in the past couple years.

Tinker prepares to begin work on facility housing AWACS support | News OK (http://newsok.com/tinker-prepares-to-begin-work-on-facility-housing-awacs-support/article/5491772)

This is great and all...but I really wish they had built this downtown...

[cry laughing face emoji] [cry laughing face emoji] [cry laughing face emoji] [cry laughing face emoji]

The KC46A is only the tip of what is to come. We are looking at 500 million to start. This refueling tanker hub will be based at tinker in the former BNSF area. All the B1 bombers are coming off line and will be updated with new technology at Tinker. Currently the Army, Air Force and Navy all use different fighters. They are currently designing a new one that will be used bay all of them. This r d process is going to be connected to tinker. The commander is currently pushing to close Douglas and expand the base east. Tinker currently tows planes across Douglas to work on them.


Ironically enough downtown did play a part in all of this. When we landed the Boeing B1 division in 2011, we had to go out there and convince key employees that Oklahoma City was indeed a great place to live. We showed them a vibrant downtown and many of them chose to live downtown. Once we got them here they went back and told others to come check it out.

Ironically enough downtown did play a part in all of this. When we landed the Boeing B1 division in 2011, we had to go out there and convince key employees that Oklahoma City was indeed a great place to live. We showed them a vibrant downtown and many of them chose to live downtown. Once we got them here they went back and told others to come check it out.

What a wonderful change compared to the United Airlines maintenance facility decision. Making this a city people would want to live in was 100% the point.

Wondering if someone in the know had more insight into the expansion east of Douglas. Been hearing rumors for a long time that Tinker plans to close Douglas from about SE 44th to I-240 and expand farther east to Post. Would make sense with so many assets in the area but you never know what the government is thinking until it is done.

Another rumor swirling around is the KC-130, C-5 and C-17 work will be transitioned to Tinker from Warner-Robins AFB but Tinker would need a lot more hangar and probably runway space.

I can't see a reason KC-135 work would move from Tinker as it is based on the 707 frame which Tinker is a specialist in maintenance and overhaul in. The AWACS is also based on the 707-320 frame.

The Boeing facility just east of Douglas (MMRC or something) was originally designed to hold 17 hangers or something like that. Obviously they haven't built those yet, so they have plenty room to grow. Tinker also owns land all along the runways and east of Douglas south of 59th. So they have plenty of space if they want to expand, without closing Douglas. All they would need to do is build a runway bridge. Douglas is far too valuable since the next exist isn't until Anderson or Air Depot on 240.

Cost to put in another highway exit made from 8" to 10" concrete vs the cost for an aircraft runway bridge made from 18" concrete would be very similar.
I think Douglas will be closed.

The commander at tinker has said that he would like to see the base expand east and include (close) Douglas. We had a ceremony on Tuesday to officially celebrate the new 158 acres added to the base through the acquisition of the BNSF rail yard. This is the beginning of a 500,000,000.00 expansion of the base which adds 14 hangers and becomes the maintenance hub for the kc46A. Tinker will hire 1300 aerospace workers to staff the facility. there is much more to come as it stands right now.

Good grief, Tinker is such a massive economic engine for OKC.

I wonder the annual impact when you consider Boeing and the ancillary businesses?

Really, the GM plant going out has been a blessing in disguise because that building is now full of workers and it allowed the BNSF railyard to become unnecessary and thus created this massive expansion opportunity.

Everyone frets when a few hundred jobs get lost in the O&G industry and almost silently, this facility is adding thousands every year it seems.

if you are really interested, they (the Air Logistics Center) used to publish an annual Economic Impact Statement. I bet they still do. Was provided to the State and City Chambers as well as State legislators and handed out to selected visitors. Had a lot of interesting financial and manpower data in it.

Tinker Air Force Base broke ground on its KC-46A Sustainment Complex on July 26, ushering in the next generation of the Air Force’s aerial refueling aircraft. The Complex is located on 158 acres of land formerly owned by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. The Chamber spearheaded several months of negotiations for Tinker to acquire the land, which was finalized in early 2015.

The Sustainment Center will bring more than 1,300 jobs to Oklahoma City and will allow the U.S. Air Force to replace its aging tanker fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers. Replacing the Eisenhower-era aircraft with the modernized KC-46A Pegasus will support the Air Force’s goal of global reach for America.

http://www.greateroklahomacity.com/news/2016/08/05/the-point/tinker-afb-breaks-ground-on-okc-46a/

Tinker has applied to close the stretch of Midwest Blvd. directly east of the old GM plant and north of SE 74th, which is due north of I-240.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tinker031717.jpg

I guess they are going to start forcing Tinker employees who work at that location to use one of the gates off of south Douglas. They may already do this since as of now, Midwest Blvd just leads to a guard shack past SE 74th st.

I wonder why the need?

New facilities in that area?

Someone who works at Tinker informed me they are seeking to close that portion of Midwest Boulevard for a new jet ramp from the new KC 46 building (which will be built on the old BNSF rail yard that was recently acquired) and thus connecting to the existing taxi and runway system.

It is really hard to keep track of everything going on out there and there are a bunch of huge projects.

Here is a JR article about the KC 46 project. It's massive:

http://journalrecord.com/tinkertakeoff/2015/02/12/general-kc-46-depot-to-affect-generations/

Someone who works at Tinker informed me they are seeking to close that portion of Midwest Boulevard for a new jet ramp from the new KC 46 building (which will be built on the old BNSF rail yard that was recently acquired) and thus connecting to the existing taxi and runway system.

It is really hard to keep track of everything going on out there and there are a bunch of huge projects.

Makes sense. There's a guard shack just north of 74th already because of the GM fence line. Only make sense that they start connecting the areas so planes can move between the structures. Not sure that it would affect anything that anyone would see though. They could really close it right at 74th and no one would be affected as there isn't anything out there anyway.

Great video by the MWC Chamber on the history of the base and the community that was built up around it.

bhrbTwjHMtw

http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/trump-budget-brac-2021-proposal

Not exclusively Tinker-related, but it's something that'll generate a degree of concern for OKC and perhaps Altus and Enid, as well. Although, with how much Tinker has grown and continues to grow, I suspect that the base is fairly safe. I'd bet that Uncle Sam likes the deal the Air Force has at the old GM plant.

http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/trump-budget-brac-2021-proposal

Not exclusively Tinker-related, but it's something that'll generate a degree of concern for OKC and perhaps Altus and Enid, as well. Although, with how much Tinker has grown and continues to grow, I suspect that the base is fairly safe. I'd bet that Uncle Sam likes the deal the Air Force has at the old GM plant.

With all the money the Airforce has put into the new tanker program, I would say Tinker is safe.

https://www.oklahoman.com/login?referer=/article/5594335

https://www.oklahoman.com/login?referer=/article/5594334


https://www.oklahoman.com/login?referer=/article/5594338

^

There are so many things going on in and around Tinker it's very hard to understand and track it all.

And I see lots more big construction projects in the bidding queue.

^

There are so many things going on in and around Tinker it's very hard to understand and track it all.

And I see lots more big construction projects in the bidding queue.

Tinker is a machine. It sets OKC apart from many cities its size. What are some of these other projects in the pike? Living in Modwest City, near Tinker, I love seeing and hearing the progress going on there!

The surrounding communities really understand just how much Tinker brings to the area and have done a good job supporting development. Just getting them the GM plant has done wonders.

Tinker is nothing less than an economic juggernaut.

At the other end of town, the FAA and Hobby Lobby are other huge economic forces that generally fly under the radar.

https://twitter.com/team_tinker/status/1015224694184738816?s=21

I’m not sure what specifically this tweet is about, but it appears that Tinker will continue to expand. I’ve heard that the base may incorporate the annexed land to its east and thereby close Douglas Ave. I’ll have to do some research.

Edit: https://twitter.com/team_tinker/status/1015225779528130560?s=21 Perhaps the two tweets are connected. I’m still digging.

https://twitter.com/team_tinker/status/1015224694184738816?s=21

I’m not sure what specifically this tweet is about, but it appears that Tinker will continue to expand. I’ve heard that the base may incorporate the annexed land to its east and thereby close Douglas Ave. I’ll have to do some research.
This tweet was part of a thread about the KC-46 Tanker Sustainment Campus, which is already under construction. I have no idea about closing Douglas Ave.

This tweet was part of a thread about the KC-46 Tanker Sustainment Campus, which is already under construction. I have no idea about closing Douglas Ave.

The Douglas closing was just a rumor that’s been discussed among base personnel. The gist was that Tinker would incorporate into base proper the Reserve and communication facilities to the east. In doing so, it would close off Douglas. That’s the rumor, anyway.

Thanks for the quick response.

The Douglas closing was just a rumor that’s been discussed among base personnel. The gist was that Tinker would incorporate into base proper the Reserve and communication facilities to the east. In doing so, it would close off Douglas. That’s the rumor, anyway.

Thanks for the quick response.
No problem. Closing Douglas, while it would suck for my avoiding Sooner, would make quite a bit of sense for the base.

There are other bases I have been to in the past for work that are divided by roads that don't seem to cause an issue for those bases. Two examples off the top of my head are Davis-Monthan in Tuscon (Kolb Rd) and Wright-Patterson in Dayton (there's a highway between parts, don't remember which). Heck, in Montgomery, AL you have Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex which are on opposite sides of town. Folks don't seem to mind.

No problem. Closing Douglas, while it would suck for my avoiding Sooner, would make quite a bit of sense for the base.

Tunnel under!

If you took that approach you'd probably want to tunnel Douglas under bridges between parts of the base, if there was an intent to move aircraft across (like to the MRO facility). If not then it probably doesn't matter.

Yeah Douglas should remain open. A few taxiway bridges and base roadways could be built as overpasses over Douglas. The base isn’t a top secret installation, just a secure facility so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

There are no current plans to close Douglas

I dont think closing Douglas would really ever make sense. Its the main access for the employees that use 3001 and they come from both directions. The base wouldn't want that traffic going through other gates that cause employees to have to cross the runway areas (ie 59th/sooner/air deport/etc). Douglas is also an OKC snow route.

Right now, the planes cross (when necessary) at 2am and traffic is stopped in both directions for it. It doesn't happen all that often, so it doesn't really make sense (to me) to put MILLIONS into an air bridge for something that doesn't get used very much.

I dont think closing Douglas would really ever make sense. Its the main access for the employees that use 3001 and they come from both directions. The base wouldn't want that traffic going through other gates that cause employees to have to cross the runway areas (ie 59th/sooner/air deport/etc). Douglas is also an OKC snow route.

Right now, the planes cross (when necessary) at 2am and traffic is stopped in both directions for it. It doesn't happen all that often, so it doesn't really make sense (to me) to put MILLIONS into an air bridge for something that doesn't get used very much.

I think the point would be, expanding east would mean more airplane moves, which may make more sense to do any time of day, thereby making an air bridge make sense?

News9 is reporting that there will be some announcement about "the future of Tinker" today...any word on what's up?

It's sweeps month and they need to drum up the ratings?

It's shutting down, and all 50,000 some-odd workers are out of jobs!!!!!

Jkjk, probably an expansion or new company coming to Tinker for operations.

They've hired Aramark to feed them all prison food.