The Virginia Air & Space Museum, located in Hampton, Virginia, stands as a captivating testament to the rich history and innovation in aviation and space exploration. Visitors are immersed in the stories of pioneering aviators, groundbreaking missions, and technological advancements that have shaped humanity’s journey beyond Earth’s atmosphere. At nine stories high, the 110,000-square-foot facility needed a high-performance solution for its exterior canopy and observation deck. That’s where Tnemec’s cutting-edge coatings came into play.
The project’s exterior canopy and observation deck presented a unique set of obstacles, including being positioned at heights that required temporary scaffolding for access. The existing coating was in poor condition and detracted from the overall visitor experience. Tnemec’s Series 1072 Fluoronar not only addressed these challenges but also offered a high-performance system that ensured longevity and looked good doing it. The success of the project was a result of synergy and close collaboration among Tnemec, Lyall Design Group, and Indoor Air Technology.
“We are thrilled to have contributed to the transformation of the Virginia Air & Space Museum’s exterior,” said Mike Enoch of Tnemec. “Our Series 1072 coating system proved to be a perfect match for the museum’s requirements, delivering exceptional performance and visual appeal.”
Series 1072 is a high-solids fluoropolymer coating that provides an ultra-durable finish with a user-friendly brush, roll, and conventional spray application. For the carbon steel exterior canopy and observation deck at the museum, Indoor Air Technology used a spray application. Series 1072 Fluoronar has outstanding color and gloss retention even in extremely harsh conditions, making it the perfect choice for the museum.
The project used 260 gallons of prime coat Series 90-97 Tneme-Zinc, 200 gallons of intermediate Series 73 Endura-Shield, and 175 gallons of finish coat Series 1072 Fluoronar. As the Virginia Air & Space Museum reaches for the skies, Tnemec’s revolutionary coatings now are at the cornerstone of its ascent.