Hilltop Times – Hill Air Force Base Weekly Newspaper Since 1948

Before explaining the importance of the base's new F-22 heavy maintenance facility, which was unveiled Jan. 12, Rep. Rob Bishop wondered aloud how long it would take to fill the 96,000-square-foot area with foam.

According to Col. Allan Day, 309th Maintenance Wing Commander, the answer is close to 90 seconds.

"It wouldn't go all the way to the ceiling," Day said of foam that would be dispensed from nozzles near the ceiling, installed in case of a fire. "The foam would just rise above the level of the plane."

By Bryon Saxton

Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau

No. 8 News Story 2012: New ICBM building

The ribbon cutting for the five-story Falcon Hill ICBM building further "cements" the viability of Hill Air Force Base and its future in remaining the state's largest single-site employer, officials said.

Dignitaries, along with a crowd of about 150 people, gathered March 12 to officially open the 151,783-square-foot building constructed for the ICBM defense contractor team led by Northrop Grumman.

The ribbon cutting for the five-story Falcon Hill ICBM building further "cements" the viability of Hill Air Force Base and its future in remaining the state's largest single-site employer, officials said.

Dignitaries, along with a crowd of about 150 people, gathered March 12 to officially open the 151,783-square-foot building constructed for the ICBM defense contractor team led by Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman will move nearly 650 people into the building in April, said Rich Essary, Hill AFB spokesman.

CLEARFIELD -- Imagine trying to keep five computers safe from corruption as hackers attempt to infiltrate the network and steal files.

For the Air Force JROTC team from Clearfield High School, that scenario is more than just a fantasy. That is what seven Clearfield students will face, during the finals of the CyberPatriot IV competition later this month in Washington, D.C.

"It's kind of a nerd game, but it's really fun," said 18-year-old Braxton Allen, a senior at CHS.

Staff Sgt. Andy Piirainen did not know what he would be eating Wednesday night at the White House. Nor did he really care. "Whatever they make, I'm sure it will be good," he said. The dinner was scheduled to occur just as the Hilltop Times went to press and he was interviewed prior to his departure.

Piirainen, an explosive ordnance disposal technician from Hill Air Force Base's 775th Civil Engineer Squadron, felt honored just to have been selected to attend the dinner hosted by President Barack Obama and the first lady.

Before explaining the importance of the base's new F-22 heavy maintenance facility, which was unveiled Jan. 12, Rep. Rob Bishop wondered aloud how long it would take to fill the 96,000-square-foot area with foam.

According to Col. Allan Day, 309th Maintenance Wing Commander, the answer is close to 90 seconds.

"It wouldn't go all the way to the ceiling," Day said of foam that would be dispensed from nozzles near the ceiling, installed in case of a fire. "The foam would just rise above the level of the plane."

NORTH SALT LAKE -- Christmas came early for Top of Utah foster care families Dec. 15.

About 80 uniformed Airmen from Hill Air Force Base's 388th and 419th Fighter Wings gathered at the Utah Foster Care Foundation offices in Ogden to help package and deliver Christmas gifts to foster and adoptive families in Weber, Davis, Morgan and Cache counties.

The Airmen, using their own vehicles and personal leave time from work, stuffed the wrapped gifts in large plastic bags and hauled them off to the families in need.

Thanksgiving came a day early for the men and women of Hill Air Force Base's two fighter wings.

On Wednesday, Hill's 388th and 419th Fighter Wings held a combined Thanksgiving feast in one of the base's airplane hangars.

The massive meal fed more than 1,200 people, including Airmen and their families, using 30 turkeys, 45 hams, and nearly every food one could desire on Turkey Day.

The next step to bring two F-35 squadrons to Hill Air Force Base will happen shortly after the new year.

After recent news for Hill, which included an Air Force restructuring plan that will result in the loss of 261 base civilian jobs, the draft environmental impact statement for the F-35 is scheduled to be released in January, base officials say.

Barbara Fisher, chief of environmental public affairs, said in a statement released to the Standard-Examiner there will be a 45-day period for public comments.

SYRACUSE -- When it comes to learning about the American flag, textbooks are good, but real-life service members are even better.

On Oct. 11, five Airmen from Hill Air Force Base's 367th Training Support Squadron taught a group of fifth-graders from Bluff Ridge Elementary School in Syracuse all they know about the flag they fight for.