Portland Gets Aircraft Shelters

? The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Fighter Wing at Portland ANG Base recently added nine aircraft shelters to protect the unit’s F-15 fighters from weather, according to a release. “They definitely are going to make our jobs easier and safer,” said MSgt. Dustin Brice, a crew chief assigned to the 142nd Aircraft Maintenance Group. Workers constructed the shelters on the base’s west ramp in about seven months, finishing the task in late August, states the release. “No flying time was affected, and we did not miss one sortie during the whole construction period,” said SMSgt. Brian Kohl, fabrication flight chief. In addition to helping mitigate corrosion on the jets, the shelters will make it less demanding on maintainers to tend to the fighters during the early morning hours or at night, states the mid September release. They will also shield tools and expensive support equipment from the rain or harsh summer sun.