Overview

Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, USA plays host to the flight training of every Naval Aviator, Naval Flight Officer and Enlisted Air Crewman in the United States of America. To commemorate those who have lost their lives in service, the NAS wanted an iconic memorial piece on the park grounds.  Fabric Architecture was commissioned to design something very special and unique.

Design solution
Fabric Architecture's in-house Design & Engineering team worked closely with the architect to develop a structure based on three diverging forms in flight. This concept was inspired from the ‘bomb burst maneuverer’ performed by the Blue Angels and the vapour trails from jet aircrafts.

The end result is a bespoke permanent structure Fabric Architecture named the Skylar Evo.  This powerful and stunning structure provides unrivalled drama, serving as a beautiful memorial feature on the park. At over 40 feet tall, the three Skylar ‘kites’ were arranged in a circular configuration to cater to the various possible viewing points from land, sea and air.

Engineering
The Florida Panhandle is known for hurricanes, tornadoes and frequent tropical storms. High winds are prone to the area and the Skylar Evo needed to be engineered to perform and withstand constant wind and pressure.  Engineered for winds up to 160 mph, the three kite canopies are made of a PVC coated Polyester Coated Mesh Fabric, allowing air to flow through the structure with ease.

Fixings and fittings were made of marine grade stainless steel adding durability and strength.  You will note from images below how large and deep the foundation needed to be to deal with the forces. 

Fabric Architecture engineered to the following Codes of Practice:  Loading: USA: ASCE 7-05 (UK BS6399, EN1991), Steel: USA: AISC 360 (UK BS5950, EN1993), Concrete: USA: ACI 318, (UK: BS8110, EN 1992).

Installation
Installation proved a challenge because the land on the site is a nature reserve and was reclaimed from the beach.  Just days before the installation, a tornado hit the region making the ground dangerously soft and uneven. Specialist cranes and access equipment were used to navigate the dunes, and installation was complete in under a week with no issues.