For all you aviation-types who ever served or went to school at NAS-Moffett Field, California, be aware that the Navy is solving an aspestos polution problem associated with historic hanger 1 by stripping its metal skin off the frame. (They never heard of sandblasting?) They are beginning on the south door. (Prevailing wind is from the north.)
Current photos of the procedure may be found at: http://www.nuqu.org/20110810/1204/
The plan is to clean and paint the frame, then cover it with a durable translucent membrane.
Trouble is, N.A.S.A., who now owns the property and buildings, is having its budget cut. So when the sheet metal has all been pulled off, there may be no funds to complete the restoration and the frame will sit exposed to the elements.
The Navy wanted to just tear down the hanger as the least expensive way to deal with the pollution problem instead of cleaning up their mess properly and perserving the hanger as built. (Odd that they allowed us to work in there under such apparently dangerous conditions for so many years.)
By pulling funding to compete the project, it looks like the Navy may get its wish.
What a shame. The communities surrounding the former Navy base want to perserve and use the former blimp hanger, but have been unable to make headway due to the recession.
10Aug2011wed
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