AIRPARK FIX-UP EYED COUNCIL EXPECTED TO AWARD CONTRACT.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

PALMDALE - The city plans to spend $590,000 to upgrade the Plant 42 Heritage Airpark, improvements that will allow the public to see what officials hope will eventually become a major draw for aviation buffs.

The City Council is expected tonight to award the contract for the project to ANM Construction and Engineering of Lancaster. The work will make it possible to open the airpark to the public, allowing visitors to see some of the aircraft produced over the years at Air Force Plant 42.

``The whole point is to open it to the public,'' Mayor Jim Ledford said Tuesday. ``To do that you need a parking lot, picnic tables, and an area for people to congregate.''

If the City Council approves the contract award, work is scheduled to start in early January and be completed in May, said Tim Hughes, associate engineer for the city's Public Works department.

Improvements covered by the contract include landscaping and irrigation, shade trees, an information kiosk, signage, walking trails, lighting, picnic tables, a 33-space temporary parking lot, covered rest area and fencing.

The improvements will also include work along Avenue P, including roadway widening and installation of a curb and gutter, sidewalk, trees and street lighting.

The airpark is being developed on 23 acres along the southern border of Plant 42, at Avenue P and 25th Street East.

The purpose of the airpark, projected to cost about $4.5 million when complete, is to honor the achievements of the region's aerospace companies and their workers.

``It's a large endeavor,'' Ledford said. ``It won't happen overnight.''

A partial list of aircraft and spacecraft built or modified at Plant 42 includes North American's F-86 Sabre, the top Air Force jet during the Korean War; the F-94C; the F-100 Super Sabre; Lockheed's F-104; the F-117 stealth fighter; the U-2 and SR-71 spy planes; the B-1 and B-2 bombers; the T-38 trainer; the L-1011 jetliner; and the space shuttle fleet.

For now, the airpark possesses eight aircraft - an A-7 Corsair, an A-4 Skyhawk, a T-38 trainer, an F-4 Phantom, an F-86 Sabre, an F-105 Thunderchief, an F-104 Starfighter, and an F-100D Super Sabre.

The airpark also has an approximately one-eighth scale model of the B-2 stealth bomber mounted on a stand. The model was provided by Northrop Grumman and is identical to a model the company has on display at Plant 42's Site 4, the plant were the B-2 fleet was built.

The city also has a prefabricated building, donated by Lockheed Martin, that will be used as a visitors center. It will take about $1 million to prepare the site for the 35-by-450-foot structure, city officials said.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, map

Photo:

(1 -- color) The City Council is expected to award a $590,000 contract to upgrade the Plant 42 Heritage Airpark.

(2 -- color) An F-4 Phantom is one of several on display at the Plant 42 Heritage Airpark, built to honor the achievements of the region's aerospace companies and their workers.

(3 -- color) The City Council plans to upgrade the Plant 42 Heritage Airpark, where representatives of the area's aerospace industry such as this Lockheed F-104, are on display.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer

Map:

Plant 42 Heritage Park