Blimp Hangers - Tustin, California
Posted by: 
geobwong2k
N 33° 42.023 W 117° 49.344
11S E 423786 N 3729239
Two Blimp Hangers at the decommissioned Marine Corp Air Station Tustin.
Waymark Code: WM1VGZ
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 07/13/2007
Views: 335
The two blimp hangers were the world's largest timber constructed buildings. The facility, orignially called the Santa Ana Naval Air Station, was built to shelter the U.S. Navy's blimps that were used for Coastal Patrols during World War II. The hangars are over 1,000 feet long with a ceiling height of 178 feet. On each end of the hangars are doors are composed of six leaves, each weighing 26 to 29 tons. Six blimps could fit in each of the massive hangers. Built in 1942, the base was shut down in 1949.
In 1951, the base was reactivated due to the Korean War. This time, rather than housing blimps, the huge hangers would be used for helicopters. Another change, was that the base became the Marine Corps Air Station Tustin. Although this Air Station was a hub of activity, the base was finally shut for the final time in 1999.
The land that the station resides on has been divided up for different uses. New houses are being constructed north of the hangers. Close by to the south is seeing the rise of The District at Tustin Legacy, a 1 million square foot shopping and entertainment complex. For now, the grand hangers still stand. Soon, changes to the hangers can be expected. One of the hangers is planned for demolition and the other's fate is still not certain. We can only hope that both of the hangers will not be razed and fade into only a memory.
Location:
The area in Tustin roughly boardered by Barranca Pkwy, Jamboree Blvd, Edinger and Red Hill Aves.
Type of structure/site: Aircraft Hanger
Date of Construction: 1942
Engineer/Architect/Builder etc.: Navy Engineer Arshad Amirikian
Engineering Organization Listing: American Society of Civil Engineers
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Web Site: [Web Link]
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