5 Features to Include in Your Airplane Hangar
Whether you operate a crop duster, glider, helicopter, biplane or military aircraft, your airplane hangar can be much more than a storage space.
Some airplane owners transform their hangar into the ultimate hangout space for entertaining friends while admiring their aircraft.
Other pilots take advantage of working-from-hangar and incorporate a fully functional office space into their aircraft storage.
Others go all out and incorporate hangar and house designs into one and live full-time with their planes.
As a pilot, you’ll want to make sure adequate space is set aside for the actual needs of your plane and aircraft maintenance, but the extra square footage doesn’t need to be wasted.
To keep your aircraft out of the elements and create a unique entertainment space on your property, consider incorporating these must-have design features to your hangar.
1. Artifacts
To add history to your hangar hangout, consider incorporating early aviation artifacts into your design plans.
Early posters of famous aviators give your hangar an exclusive, sophisticated feel that can turn into a fun research project.
Look into famous aviators in history and find one that you feel connected to or inspired by. You can use this pilot as a design inspiration for your space.
Wooden propellers, worn-out flight jackets, and vintage aviator goggles are compelling pieces that add to your space.
Aviation-themed movie posters and books are on-theme pieces that can also be incorporated into your interior designs.
Some pilots have gone so far as to repurpose aircraft pieces into one-of-a-kind aviation-themed furniture.
How interesting would it be to restore and reupholster airline seats or helicopter chairs for comfortable seating options in your hangar? Or to construct your coffee table or countertop from a jet engine nacelle?
The possibilities are only limited by your creativity.
If you come from a family of aviation enthusiasts, incorporate some of your family’s flight materials and aviation heirlooms into your hangar designs.
Not only will your guests love it, but you’ll achieve an exclusive look.
You’ll also feel more connected to your roots in your space as you honor your family and the heritage they left you.
2. An Office Space
If you are interested in working from your airplane hangar part-time, full-time, or want an office option to prepare for the unexpected, building out an office in your hangar is a great way to combine work and play.
A year or so after purchasing their hangars, many pilots decide to build out a workspace in their hangar so they can work on their plane and stay on top of business related to their full-time profession.
You can add an office space to the back of your hangar or build out a second level for a separate area to switch into work mode while maintaining easy access to your plane.
3. Lounge Areas
“Hangar” is the mid-1800s French word for “shed.” Hangars are built in all different sizes from shed-sized to expansive, but regardless of the square footage of your building, it has the potential to be the ultimate lounge space for you and your guests.
A hangar doesn't need to be thousands of square feet to be special.
Create a quality hang-out space in your building by incorporating a few basic comforts into your design plans.
You may want to separate your lounge space to protect it from the dust and grime of regular aircraft maintenance, or you may want to house your lounge and plane all in the same wide-open area to keep your plane as the centerpiece.
Regardless of how you choose to incorporate a laid-back area into your building, the best thing you can do to make the space comfortable is let in natural light.
Consider installing large, high windows or overhead skylights to provide optimal lighting and allow for fresh air ventilation while you’re at it.
This can be particularly helpful if your lounge and plane are in the same room.
For a great lounge space, you’ll also want to think about eating.
4. Kitchenette
Installing a kitchenette for food prep and storage will ensure guests in your hangar stay comfortable and well-fed for hours on end.
Putting in a BBQ grill out back can make your hangar the go-to spot for impromptu summertime hang-outs.
Practically speaking, consider adding a futon to your lounge for those weekends you need to put in late-night maintenance hours.
If you need to work on your plane over the weekend or have early-morning flight plans, you may as well have a comfortable place to crash.
You’ll thank yourself later.
5. Grunge
People love authenticity. 
Rather than hiding away your aircraft parts and maintenance tools, put them on display.
Share your love of flying with your guests by creating an open storage space for your flight bag, maintenance logs, charts, and even your cleaning supplies.
Far from cluttering up your space, these elements will draw your guests into your love of aviation and encourage conversation.
Creating an open-air shelving unit, work-bench, or storage station is not only a design feature, but it should also be practical.
Your tools, battery charger, manuals, and even hydraulic fluid pique the curiosity of others and may even spread your hobby.
Make sure your space is in the right place in your hangar to be functional and let the ornamental aspects take care of themselves. It is a hangar after all.
Considerations to Make for Your Dream Hangar
Airplane hangar designs can be as varied as the pilots who own them.
There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to design features.
If you own or lease a hangar on an airfield, be sure to check the airport’s standards and criteria for hangars.
There are often building design requirements that you will want to be sure you meet before construction, so be sure to determine the restrictions and minimum standards of your airport well ahead of time.
If you plan to build your hangar on personal property, you will not be limited by these constraints.
Design the Hangar of Your Dreams Today!
If you are looking for an experienced design firm to help with your hangar project design, contact CDMG today.
Our firm offers full-service construction and design services for metal building kits that can be custom-designed to your exact hangar specifications.
I'm Ben Sparhawk, the Content Writer and Marketing Account Manager for CDMG. I write to showcase the work that CDMG does and everything related to the pre-engineered metal building industry as well as their engineering capabilities. When I'm not working on content, you can find me spending time with my wife and children. You can also find me in the gym, trying to better myself, and I also enjoy spending time outdoors hiking or checking out local parks.