Hush houses receive $800,000 renovation

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kelley J. Stewart
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  The 52nd Component Maintenance Squadron Hush Houses are being renovated. 

Three Vital Link Inc. contractors began renovations here in mid-August and will complete $800,000 worth of work by mid-November. 

Hush House three is finished. The contractors began work the second week of August and the 52nd CMS accepted the facility back from them the second week of September after the upgrade was completed. The contractors then began work on Hush House two. 

Master Sgt. Christopher Montoya, 52nd CMS Test Cell Section chief, said Hush House three was chosen first because "both (Aircraft Maintenance Units) are gone, and it wouldn't impact their mission." 

Hush House three is located between the two AMUs on the flightline. 

All of the Hush Houses in the Air Force are going to a standard configuration, and that is what the contractors are doing here. They're installing a computer-based Program Logic Control system. Before the contractors began their work, all three of the Hush Houses here had different configurations. When the work is completed in mid-November, all of the Hush Houses will be the same. 

"(The standard configuration) helps when a part breaks," Sergeant Montoya said. "It helps with parts availability and downtime. It also helps with training because it will be the same from one base to the next." 

An additional benefit to the PLC upgrade is two mini-bus data computers that control all doors and turning veins used when testing an engine. The test cell also the ability to have an engineer trouble shoot any problems with the PLC should there be a need. 

"There is an analog data modem we can plug a telephone line into so an engineer in the States can trouble shoot (any) problem for us," Sergeant Montoya said. "This alleviates a lot of downtime." 

According to the Vital Link Web site, some of the systems controlled by the PLC include facility power status, fire system status, facility and test area access points, roller shutter doors, engine start system, test stand configuration, exhaust temperature, test and ventilation, and pre-start requirements. 

The site also states Hush Houses provide an enclosed, acoustically-treated environment to run various aircraft types with engines installed or to test uninstalled engines. The acoustic treatment reduces the environmental impact of noise on the surrounding area while engines are being run.