‘Sound of freedom here to stay’: Beaufort fighter jet pilots have $79 million new home
Pilots at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort have a new home, with the official opening Thursday of a new $79 million fighter jet hangar that’s part of modernization efforts the base commander says will help ensure jets keep flying in the Lowcountry.
The facility, MCAS says, is the most state-of-the-art hangar at the air station, setting the standard for future F-35B Lightning II hangars.
The hangar on the base off of U.S. Highway 21 north of Beaufort is the new home for Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, which is the Fleet Replacement Squadron for F-35B pilots, MCAS said in a news release.
The 42,000 square-foot hangar bay can house nine F-35B’s.
The facility also includes a 103,000 square-foot administration building that is able to accommodate up to 450 Marines and civilian personnel, a pilot fit facility for the fitting of pilot flight equipment, an operational support facility, a three-story parking structure, 25 sunshades, an expansion of the visiting aircraft line and two wide body aircraft refueling stations.
Col. Karl Arbogast, MCAS Beaufort commanding officer, said modernization efforts at the bast primarily support Marine Aircraft Group-31 in its mission to deploy aircraft and personnel across the globe.
“The bottom line is that we are innovating, we are building, and we are protecting these significant investments to ensure the sound of freedom is here to stay in the Low Country,” Arbogast said.
“The Noise You Hear is the Sound of Freedom” is the motto at Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort.
Construction of a $150 million medical clinic at the MCAS is also in the works.
The clinic, the Marines say, will improve medical care for 5,000 personnel and avert a future health-care shortage. Construction is expected to begin 2027.
This story was originally published July 8, 2022 at 12:56 PM.
