- Underground hangar
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An Underground hangar is a type of hangar for military aircraft, usually dug into the side of a mountain for protection. It is bigger and more protected than a Hardened Aircraft Shelter (HAS).
An underground hangar complex may include tunnels containing the normal elements of a military airbase - fuel storage, weapon storage, rooms for maintaining the aircraft systems, a communications centre, briefing rooms, kitchen, dining rooms, sleeping areas and generators for electrical power.
Countries that have used underground hangars include Albania, China, India, Italy, North Korea, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Vietnam and Yugoslavia.
Contents
By country
India
The Indian Air Force operates underground hangars. Sukhoi Su-30 MKI have been stationed at Trishul Air-base situated in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. It houses one of the largest underground hangers in Asia. Adampur, situated in Punjab, houses an air-base with underground hangars. It is the home base for MiG-29 and MiG-21 interceptors.
Pakistan
Pakistan has an underground hangar facility for the Pakistan Air Force in Punjab.[citation needed]
Sweden
The Swedish Air Force has used underground hangars. The Saab 37 Viggen aircraft was designed with a folding tail fin to fit into low hangars. One of the hangars is now the Aeroseum museum.
Switzerland
Main article: Aircraft cavernSix Flugzeugkaverne (aircraft caverns), each with space for 30 or more aircraft, were constructed for the Swiss Air Force. One has been used to operate F/A-18 Hornet aircraft.
Yugoslavia
Main article: Željava Air BaseThe largest underground hangar complex in former Yugoslavia was at Željava Airport near Bihać, with enough space for 80 MiG-21s. Slatina Air Base, located at Pristina International Airport, contained the second largest.
External links
- [1] Armeeschulfilm über die Schweizer Flugzeugkaverne
See also
- Highway strip
Categories:- Aircraft hangars
- Bunkers
- Military airbases
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