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Corps completes F-22 relocation project

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District
Published April 5, 2017
With scissors in hand, Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander (left, and Army Col. Kirk Gibbs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District commander, prepare to cut the ceremonial ribbon signifying the official opening of the new 411th Flight Test Squadron facility March 22. The squadron is responsible for the developmental testing of the F-22 Raptor and its systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Christian Turner

With scissors in hand, Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander (left, and Army Col. Kirk Gibbs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District commander, prepare to cut the ceremonial ribbon signifying the official opening of the new 411th Flight Test Squadron facility March 22. The squadron is responsible for the developmental testing of the F-22 Raptor and its systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Christian Turner

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.—The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District participated in a ceremony March 22 to cut the ribbon at the 411th Flight Test Squadron’s new F-22 Raptor facility here.

“I’m extremely proud of my team, and I know our team is extremely proud of what was accomplished here and the hard work that went into this project,” said Col. Kirk Gibbs, commander of the Corps’ Los Angeles District. “This is what I really want to highlight on the safety record, 80,000 labor hours with zero loss time accidents.”

Corps contractor R.A. Burch Construction of Ramona, California, was awarded the design and construction of the F-22 facility project Dec. 18, 2015.  Since 1984, Burch has delivered quality projects for every branch of the Armed Forces.

The District’s Edwards Resident Engineer Office managed the $26 million project that provides nearly 200-thousand square feet of remodeled and modernized hangars, support and administrative structures that support continued testing of the F-22 Raptor.  

The 411th FLTS moved to the new facility in February following the relocation project that lasted almost one year and put the facility closer to the flight line. The move was to make way for upcoming facility renovations that will host new test programs.

“Today is a celebration,” said Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander. “We are celebrating a handful of things, the first being this move that got completed with two weeks to spare, but to have a program finished early and ahead of schedule is a huge deal milestone and accomplishment for you all.”                 

Schaefer went on to say that the Edwards mission is to test and evaluate weapons systems to ensure war winning combat capabilities.

“We got F-22s that are flying in combat today, bringing combat capability to the enemy, and right now we have no bad guy or girl aircraft fly against the Raptor,” said Schaefer. “You’re not going to survive flying against the Raptor.”

The Los Angeles District is no stranger to the Air Force as the district continues to provide world class facilities that support our combat mission, including providing Airmen with quality dormitory facilities at Edwards and Nellis.  All of these share a common goal: to provide Airmen with a quality facility commensurate with the quality of their service.

“For more than 75 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working closely with Edwards AFB, building great projects,” said Gibbs.