Due to the wide clear span capability of metal buildings, many airport, both commercial and private, utilize them for airplane hangers. A steel structure is able to have a wider clear span than a wood truss building. Also metal superstructure provides extra head room due to the open gable construction. Wood truss buildings are only as high as the bottom of the trusses. Metal buildings are open all the way to the peak. Also an overall lower roof line on the outside provides less wind resistance. A metal building many times has an exterior roof pitch of 2×12 or 3×12 while a wood truss is many times 6×12 or more in order to gain enough structural strength in the trusses to cover the same wide span. Many metal buildings are 60 feet wide. Others can go 100′ wide with out any interior supports.

Now let’s look at all of this in conjuction with airplanes and airports. Airplanes need a very wide door to pass through. If a metal building is used with a width of 100′, then about 95′ feet or more can be open at one time. The entire end of the building can be left open or roll to the side doors can be designed for them. Also when inside the hanger, ladders and other things are needed for working on the different parts of the plane. The higher interior roof allows for such work to be performed.

On the outside, airports are notorious for the wind. A lower roof line to the entire building allows for the air to pass over it more easily than the wood truss. Also the lower roof line is an asset if a plane or ultra light is in the air. If there is less height to an obstacle, an plane in trouble may be able to avoid it.

Open construction buildings with very strong construction are ideal for industrial use and also private planes. There are many people who like to own a plane and use it for a hobby. At our local airport there is a whole line up of small private planes. There in one in particular that always catches our eye when it flies over. It is an orange bi-plane. Even our neighbor boy is getting in on the act with a small remote control plane. He hopes to join the air force someday and train to be a pilot. How many kids have gained an inspiration for something by being introduced to it, even by just living near a private airport with neat metal buildings in a row for airplane hangers. Some day you might even be looking for aircraft sales.