Doors
Custom Door Solutions for Fabric Structures
Case Studies
New Covers. Same Structures. Continued Protection.
Company:
U.S. Marine Corps
Location:
Yuma, AZ
Market:
Military
Get a Quick Quote for Your Custom Fabric Structure
Tell us what you need, and we’ll provide a no-obligation quote for a structure designed to your exact specifications—start now!
Start Your Free Quote
Challenge
After 12 years of enduring intense heat, relentless sunlight, and the arid desert climate of Yuma, Arizona, the Big Top aircraft sunshades at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma were ready for a refresh. Originally installed in 2011, the structures had spent more than a decade providing essential protection for F/A-18 aircraft and military personnel from the harsh desert environment.
With long, intensely hot summers and some of the highest levels of sunshine in the world, Yuma presents demanding conditions for fabric structures. Years of continuous exposure to intense UV radiation, high temperatures, and other environmental elements can take a toll on protective fabric covers. While the structural frames remained in good condition, the fabric covers had reached the point where replacement was necessary to maintain reliable protection.
However, the aging fabric did not mean the structures themselves had reached the end of their service life. Replacing the entire sunshade structures would mean discarding functional framing and investing in new infrastructure when only the protective covers needed attention.
Solution
Rather than replacing the entire sunshade structures, MCAS Yuma turned back to Big Top for a practical and cost-effective solution: replacement fabric covers. In 2023, Big Top supplied 52 replacement covers for the existing aircraft sunshades, allowing the installation to retain its original structural framing while renewing the protective fabric that had endured more than a decade of exposure to Arizona’s harsh desert climate.
The replacement covers restored the sunshades’ ability to provide reliable overhead protection for F/A-18 aircraft and flight line personnel. Engineered for demanding environmental conditions, Big Top’s protective fabric blocks 99.95% of UV-A and UV-B radiation, helping preserve aircraft exterior finishes, protect sensitive onboard electronics, and provide shaded working environments for personnel performing maintenance and other flight line operations.
By replacing only the fabric components, MCAS Yuma was able to extend the service life of its existing Big Top structures without the added expense of purchasing entirely new sunshades. This approach not only preserved the value of the original investment but also demonstrated the long-term serviceability of Big Top’s fabric structures.
Big Top Benefits
- Extended Structure Life
- Cost-Effective Solution
- UV Protection
- Turnkey Installation
- Continued Weather Protection
- Long-Term Serviceability
Big Top's protective fabric blocks 99.95% of UV-A and UV-B radiation, helping preserve aircraft exterior finishes, protect sensitive onboard electronics, and provide shaded working environments for personnel performing maintenance and other flight line operations.
Additional Case Studies
Partner with a trusted industry expert. Contact Big Top today.
Request Your Free Custom Quote
Ready to get started? Provide your requirements and we’ll send a quick, no-obligation quote for a structure designed to your exact needs.
