AF leaves Eglin with 59 F-35s

The Air Force said today that it will base 59 F-35 aircraft at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., contingent upon the result of a draft supplemental environmental impact statement expected to be released this fall. The planes will be based at Eglin with flight operations also occurring at Duke and Choctaw fields. The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission established the F-35 Initial Joint Training Center at Eglin, with the expectation of 107 planes. The number was set at 59 last year, but expection was Eglin would get 48 more. The announcement today ends that. "This is not a final basing decision; it is the alternative we believe will fulfill our mission responsibilities while considering economic, environmental, and technical factors," said Kathleen Ferguson, Air Force deputy assistant secretary for installations. In a news conference this afternoon at Eglin, Maj. Gen. C.R. Davis, Air Armament Center Commander, said the additional aircraft would interfere with other air missions at the base. (Source: AFNS, Northwest Florida Daily News, 07/28/10)