they could rebuild Douglass to still connect but go around the expansion, see S Portland Ave for how this was done for WRWA.

they could rebuild Douglass to still connect but go around the expansion, see S Portland Ave for how this was done for WRWA.

It looks like the base & airport trust probably own most of the land between 59th & 74th all the way to Post, so an interchange on Post seems more likely than having the street jog a bit

It looks like the base & airport trust probably own most of the land between 59th & 74th all the way to Post, so an interchange on Post seems more likely than having the street jog a bit

What the mayor was proposing was that people just take 74th and backtrack, and then come back on 29th.

They will also need to turn Post and that section of 74th into a 4 lane road to handle the traffic. But i'm pretty sure they haven't been considering this.

It looks like the base & airport trust probably own most of the land between 59th & 74th all the way to Post, so an interchange on Post seems more likely than having the street jog a bit

long term there is a good chance the everything between 40 and 240 east of douglas will be Tinker AFB ..

Recent aerials:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tinker010423a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tinker010423b.jpg

Recent aerials:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tinker010423a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tinker010423b.jpg

those 7 kc46 hangers will eventually be 14 IIRC

It is good to see this all moving forward. The next round will add an additional 2 billion in infrastructure development this year and next.

It's hard to comprehend the entire Tinker-driven economic engine.

Between Tinker, the State government (including OU, UCO, OCCC, Rose State, etc.) and all the distribution centers on the far west side, OKC has an incredible 3-legged economic machine.

It's hard to comprehend the entire Tinker-driven economic engine.

Between Tinker, the State government (including OU, UCO, OCCC, Rose State, etc.) and all the distribution centers on the far west side, OKC has an incredible 3-legged economic machine.

absolutely. Tinker alone is around a 4 billion dollar impact in the region.

those 7 kc46 hangers will eventually be 14 IIRC

Any idea when work begins on new hangars east of Douglas and north of 59th?

Any idea when work begins on new hangars east of Douglas and north of 59th?

i don't have exact timing on that project but it should be this year ..

absolutely. Tinker alone is around a 4 billion dollar impact in the region.

Here's hoping we can keep that humming after Inhofe's departure.

Also, as a plane nerd I can't wait until the B-21 maintenance complex is up and running in a few years. Gonna geek out watching those things fly in and out.

Here's hoping we can keep that humming after Inhofe's departure.

^^
This. There is a lot of hatred on this website for this man and his conservative allies, but the fact of the matter is that with his tenure, Inhofe was INSTRUMENTAL in Tinker's continued success in the region. Tinker's success is everything to this metro area.

^^
This. There is a lot of hatred on this website for this man and his conservative allies, but the fact of the matter is that with his tenure, Inhofe was INSTRUMENTAL in Tinker's continued success in the region. Tinker's success is everything to this metro area.

I am unashamedly not a fan of anybody staying on the public payroll almost their entire adult life. Never had a real job like everyday working people

I am unashamedly not a fan of anybody staying on the public payroll almost their entire adult life. Never had a real job like everyday working people

But he truly realized the impact of Tinker, and how the Federal government could create 10s of 1000s of jobs for Oklahomans. None of the 7 current congressmen want Oklahoma to receive federal funds. So he is different in that way.

But he truly realized the impact of Tinker, and how the Federal government could create 10s of 1000s of jobs for Oklahomans. None of the 7 current congressmen want Oklahoma to receive federal funds. So he is different in that way.

You are quite incorrect on asserting Inhofe is unique in wanting and obtaining federal funds.
For instance, Lucas is a champion of fedefal monies going to the ag sector.

You are quite incorrect on asserting Inhofe is unique in wanting and obtaining federal funds.
For instance, Lucas is a champion of fedefal monies going to the ag sector.

Good for him. I might have missed that because he isn't in my district (my apologies for my ignorance). I just know that Tinker is in a district with congressmen who don't love federal dollars and earmarks.

Term limits would be good.....i'll just leave it at that.

It's been surprising to me that the MROTC has been so slow to develop. It was supposed to be what, 17 hangers or something crazy like that, all north of 59th street. And we have 3 10 years after they started. Maybe they just didn't do a very good job at explaining that the 17 number was just a masterplan, and masterplans hardly ever get completed as drawn because the world changes as you go. But I agree, it will be cool to see the B21 come through here. We rarely ever see a B2, but it has happened on occasion. B1's....not all the time, but a lot more often.

Term limits would be good.....i'll just leave it at that.

It's been surprising to me that the MROTC has been so slow to develop. It was supposed to be what, 17 hangers or something crazy like that, all north of 59th street. And we have 3 10 years after they started. Maybe they just didn't do a very good job at explaining that the 17 number was just a masterplan, and masterplans hardly ever get completed as drawn because the world changes as you go. But I agree, it will be cool to see the B21 come through here. We rarely ever see a B2, but it has happened on occasion. B1's....not all the time, but a lot more often.

The Air force does move slow. There were also some utilities that have to be moved. The city just approved around 40 million to move the main water line that runs along Douglas in order to move forward. I believe that we have until the end of next year to get ready for the B21.

Flightradar24
SNTRY25 left tinker
Boeing E-3B

Left tinker, helped support the object shoot down over lake Huron.

Any local scoops on this?

Hey dcsooner, I saw your post about people not being their entire adult lives on the public payroll. How does this belief jive with police and firefighters who do spend their life working for the public on the public payroll? We spend years training to hone our specialized skills (think urban search and rescue like you are seeing sent to Turkey). That kind of training takes years of learning not just working on collapsed buildings but specilized rescue tools, high angle rescue, trench rescue, etc. How do I know, well I did spend a bit of time doing that kind of training plus hazmat, add in firefighting, (structural as well as wildland etc) and medical then yes its alot to learn and retain.

Hey dcsooner, I saw your post about people not being their entire adult lives on the public payroll. How does this belief jive with police and firefighters who do spend their life working for the public on the public payroll? We spend years training to hone our specialized skills (think urban search and rescue like you are seeing sent to Turkey). That kind of training takes years of learning not just working on collapsed buildings but specilized rescue tools, high angle rescue, trench rescue, etc. How do I know, well I did spend a bit of time doing that kind of training plus hazmat, add in firefighting, (structural as well as wildland etc) and medical then yes its alot to learn and retain.

I feel like it was 1,000% implied he wasn't talking about police or firefighters. He was talking about legislators, who haven't had to work like the rest of us. Not police or firefighters.

Thank you! CH Sooner

Politicians are the bane of our existence.

https://www.velocityokc.com/blog/development/255-million-investment-coming-to-oklahoma-city-s-aerospace-industry/?utm_source=ChamberT&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=IntDevelopment&utm_content=PrattWhitney3_24_23

Not bad. Another win for Tinker.

Awesome.

It's hard to comprehend the absolutely massive economic engine that is Tinker AFB.

Relatively recent aerial; open in new tab for a more hi-res view:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tinker042523a.png

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/02/20/tinker-air-force-base-readies-for-b-52-upgrades-as-engines-tested/

Some interesting tidbits in here....

"This includes plans to build a massive hangar at Tinker starting in 2026, which could house up to four B-52s and increase the amount of work that can be done on the bomber at any given time."

"After this year’s testing, Boeing will set up four systems integration laboratories to ensure adding the new engines onto the B-52 will go smoothly, Cleaver said. Three will be in Oklahoma City, near Tinker Air Force Base, and the fourth — focusing on the engines’ electrical systems — will be at a Boeing facility near Seattle."

"But the upgrades will mean a lot more work, and require a lot more capacity at Tinker, Foreman said. So in 2026, Tinker will start building a massive structure known as the bomber agile common hangar that could house four B-52s and allow for more upgrading work to be done. That hangar will be ready at the end of 2030, in time for the upgrades of production jets to begin in early 2031."

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/02/20/tinker-air-force-base-readies-for-b-52-upgrades-as-engines-tested/

Some interesting tidbits in here....

"This includes plans to build a massive hangar at Tinker starting in 2026, which could house up to four B-52s and increase the amount of work that can be done on the bomber at any given time."

"After this year’s testing, Boeing will set up four systems integration laboratories to ensure adding the new engines onto the B-52 will go smoothly, Cleaver said. Three will be in Oklahoma City, near Tinker Air Force Base, and the fourth — focusing on the engines’ electrical systems — will be at a Boeing facility near Seattle."

"But the upgrades will mean a lot more work, and require a lot more capacity at Tinker, Foreman said. So in 2026, Tinker will start building a massive structure known as the bomber agile common hangar that could house four B-52s and allow for more upgrading work to be done. That hangar will be ready at the end of 2030, in time for the upgrades of production jets to begin in early 2031."

that means you are looking at something like a 600 x 400 foot building ..

The B-52 fleet will outlive most of its builders by the time it gets retired.

The B-52 fleet will outlive most of its builders by the time it gets retired.

the average B-52 is now over 60

There are already a couple cranes behind the old GM plant right now.

From the OKC Chamber:


With more than 26,000 military and civilian workers, Tinker AFB is the largest single-site employer in Oklahoma and has an annual payroll of $1.8 billion. The nine-square-mile base includes 760 buildings totaling a building floor space of more than 15 million square feet. It provides an annual statewide economic impact of $4.5 billion, and it creates an estimated 33,000 secondary jobs. To put it into perspective, Tinker has all of the facilities, infrastructure and environmental needs of a 31,000-person city.

Tinker and all the ancillary businesses around it result in a massive economic engine and one that is completely linear.

Between Tinker and the state, and then big private employers like Amazon, Hobby Lobby and Paycom, it's no wonder our local economy is no longer subject to the wild swings of the oil & gas industry.

Still wondering when they plan to close Douglas, that road is getting worse by the day, but obviously the city isn't going to spend any money on a road that's going to be closed in the distant future.

Still wondering when they plan to close Douglas, that road is getting worse by the day, but obviously the city isn't going to spend any money on a road that's going to be closed in the distant future.

remember that not all of Douglas is closing .. the mile from 29th south to 44th is staying open

remember that not all of Douglas is closing .. the mile from 29th south to 44th is staying open

True, but that's the better part. The part from there to 240 is what's getting really bad, so many potholes

Tinker is a very unique base. There are 3 parts. An Air Force Base, A Navy base and the US headquarters for the Office of Sustainment. The office of Sustainment is responsible for every jet engine for the Air Force globally.

From the OKC Chamber:



Tinker and all the ancillary businesses around it result in a massive economic engine and one that is completely linear.

Between Tinker and the state, and then big private employers like Amazon, Hobby Lobby and Paycom, it's no wonder our local economy is no longer subject to the wild swings of the oil & gas industry.

26,000 people with only 20,000 parking spots lol.
Seriously tho, Tinker is its own city. If something drastic happened, we could close the gates and sustain just fine.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tinker052424a.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tinker052424a.jpg

What's being built behind the old GM plant? They've had cranes there for a while.

What's being built behind the old GM plant? They've had cranes there for a while.

that is the KC-46 facility .. the current building when finished will make 9 hangers completed .. full build out IIRC will be 14 (with room to grow)

that is the KC-46 facility .. the current building when finished will make 9 hangers completed .. full build out IIRC will be 14 (with room to grow)

Nice! Thank you sir.

I've said it before, but Tinker is just an economic powerhouse.

Between it, Hobby Lobby and the massive distribution centers in West OKC, and then the government between, we have a pretty powerful 3-legged economic engine. None of those things are sexy, but they are the bedrock of what makes OKC stable.

Can you please remind me who will occupy the large building south of I-240? I remember it's another aerospace company. Thank you!

Can you please remind me who will occupy the large building south of I-240? I remember it's another aerospace company. Thank you!

Pratt & Whitney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax0cmgBVQ8I

Anyone know what’s being built on the land north of the Reserve Center? Was driving by at night so didn’t get a good look…19458

I can't find any permits but here's a more recent aerial.

https://i.imgur.com/6igxNxb.jpeg

On Google Maps this spot is labeled as "Tinker Power site".

On Google Maps this spot is labeled as "Tinker Power site".

I work across the street from that and have watched and wondered with interest as to what they were building.

Are there any signs up that say who the contractor is? It looks like there is an electrical substation across the street, so those could be generators going in as a backup to power the substation

OG&E
Unsure if substation or power generation of some sort.