Construction has begun on a new $5.1 million hangar at Felts Field airport.

Todd Woodard, spokesman for Spokane Airports, says the building will be leased to the Historic Flight Foundation, which is based at Paine Field in Everett, Wash., for use as a historic aircraft display hangar.

Spokane-based Graham Construction Inc. is the contractor for the project, which includes building a 20,600-square-foot, pre-engineered metal hangar at 5829 Rutter.

Woodard says the building, which was designed by J. R. Miller & Associates Inc. of Brea, Calif., is planned to be a single-story structure with a mezzanine level and will include a 69-stall parking lot. 

 “This will be a historic aircraft display hangar, with a collection including different types of rare military, commercial, and general aviation aircraft, all restored to flying condition,” says Woodard. “The building will replace the dilapidated hangar at that location, which was formerly occupied by the EAA.” 

The EAA, which is short for the Experimental Aircraft Association, is an international organization that promotes experimental, amateur, and kit-built aircraft construction. 

According to Woodard, the EAA already has been offered a lease in another hangar at Felts Field. He says the new hangar is expected to take up to 10 months to complete. 

Felts Field consists of 400 acres of land. Felts Field, Spokane International Airport, and the Airport Business Park are owned jointly by Spokane County and the city of Spokane, and are operated by the Spokane Airport Board, which consists of seven members appointed by the two governmental
jurisdictions.