76th MXW breaks ground on consolidated fuels facility Published Oct. 2, 2008 By Brandice Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- It's time for a change, and the 76th Commodities Maintenance Group is ready. Construction for the second phase of a consolidated fuels facility is under way. Situated directly east of the first building, Bldg. 3902, on Douglas Boulevard, the new facility, Bldg. 3907, is expected to be completed by March 2010. Costing approximately $32 million, Bldg. 3907 will support the test and calibration of fuel system components including fuel controls, pumps and actuators for aircraft airframes and engines. Built by Benham Constructors, the two-story facility will measure 140,000 square feet. "This project will maximize our efficiencies to improve our cost and delivery performance of Air Force fuel accessories and other components," said Michael Wenzel, 76th CMXG deputy director. Currently, after fuel controls and accessories are repaired in Bldg. 3001, they are delivered to Bldg. 3902 for testing. If the part is deemed functional it is returned to the customer. If not, it is brought back to Bldg. 3001 for further repair. The process continues between Bldgs. 3001 and 3902, until the piece is considered fixed. "We've got a whole lot of travel time between the build-up and test areas," Mr. Wenzel said. Once construction on the new facility, Bldg. 3907, is complete, the time spent driving the piece from Bldg. 3001 will be eliminated. The new building will consolidate the 76th CMXG fuel control overhaul and test functions from Bldgs. 3001 and 3108. Working two shifts, more than 250 commodities group and supporting unit members, will call the new building home, said Herman Dave Sanchez, 552nd Commodities Maintenance Squadron director. "The weapons systems supported by this facility and the related test equipment include the TF33 and F100 engines, and the A-10 Thunderbolt II, B-1 Lancer, B-52 Stratofortress, C-5 Galaxy, C-130 Hercules, E-3 Sentry, F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and T-37 Tweet," Mr. Sanchez said. The new facility will be the first step in the consolidation of the number of overall commodities buildings from 23 facilities to eight. Emptied buildings will either be used for other purposes or condemned due to poor condition or being in the flight-line's clear zone. The first consolidated fuel facility was built in 1995.