From: Malerie Shelton

Naval Aviation Museum Foundation

(850) 453-2389 

Mshelton@navalaviationmuseum.org

September 28, 2018 –Pensacola, Fl—The National Naval Aviation Museum will soon welcome museum visitors with a custom-designed replica flight deck of the USS Nimitz. The 8,800-square-foot, vinyl-tile flooring will be featured along the east side of the museum lobby – a tribute to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and lead ship of her class.

The 200-foot flight deck replica will be comprised of more than 600, 3-foot-by-3-foot tiles and more than 1,000 individual pieces in various colors that match the real-life markings on the supercarrier ship. Nimitz’s catapults, arresting gear, jet blast deflectors, hatches and hundreds of aircraft padeyes are all represented by various shades of gray.

As one of the largest-scale representations of an aircraft carrier flight deck in the world, visitors will see what it’s like to walk across the flight deck of one of America’s most recognizable symbols of peacekeeping machinery.

“We are very excited to add this impressive exhibit to the Museum,” said retired Navy Capt. Sterling Gilliam, museum director. “It will allow us to tell the exciting story of what young men and women are doing on Nimitz-class flight decks around the globe today in support of our nation’s defense.”

The unique flooring material by Tandus Centiva, a Tarkett company, is manufactured in Florence, Alabama. The same type of flooring, with graphic design cut into each tile, can also be found in the entrance lobby of the Empire State Building in New York. Using detailed drawings produced by the museum graphics department, Tandus Centiva graphic designers produced a CAD drawing to fit the carrier deck into the exact, laser-measured space in the museum.

A proprietary, ultrasonic cutting process at the mill in Alabama cut each piece of flooring to create a giant jigsaw puzzle of sorts. Once on sight, Carpet Creations, a Pensacola flooring contractor, assembled the tiles over a special underlayment that protects the terrazzo subsurface.

Media Note: For more information about the National Naval Aviation Museum or Foundation, contact Malerie Shelton at (850) 453-2389 ormshelton@navalaviationmuseum.org.

About the National Naval Aviation Museum

The National Naval Aviation Museum, one of TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Museums in the United States,” features nearly 350,000 square feet of displays and is one of the world’s largest aviation museums. Located aboard Pensacola Naval Air Station, the facility boasts more than 150 beautifully restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aviation and is one of Florida’s most visited museums. Be sure to visit Hangar Bay One, displaying aircraft of the post-WWII era including presidential helicopter, Marine One. Among the countless things to touch, see and experience are thrilling 3D and HD flight simulators and the new Blue Angels 4D Experience. Don’t miss the drama and power of the new laser powered Giant Screen digital theater. The Cubi Bar Café offers a unique dining experience and the Flight Deck Store is the perfect place to find a souvenir that captures the spirit of Naval Aviation. Museum admission is FREE and open to the public. The National Naval Aviation Museum is open daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information, visit www.NavalAviationMuseum.org.

About Tarkett

With net sales of 2.7 billion euros in 2015, Tarkett is a global leader in innovative and sustainable solutions for flooring and sports surfaces. Offering a wide range of products including vinyl, linoleum, carpet, rubber, wood & laminate, synthetic turf and athletic tracks, the Group serves customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. With 12,000 employees and 34 industrial sites, Tarkett sells 1.3 million square meters of flooring every day, for hospitals, schools, housing, hotels, offices, stores and sports fields. Committed to sustainable development, the Group has implemented an eco-innovation strategy and promotes circular economy. For more information, visit www.tandus-centiva.com.