Luke, Hill, Burlington to get F-35s

A day after announcing that Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., will get 59 F-35s for its joint strike fighter training center, the Air Force announced additional basings for the next-generation plane. The Air Force chose Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and Burlington Air Guard Station, Vt., to get F-35s. The Luke planes will be used for training, while Hill's and Burlington's will be for operations. The previously announced candidates for operations aircraft were, in addition to Hill and Burlington, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Shaw Air Force Base/McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., and Jacksonville Air Guard Station, Fla. The other training base candidates, in addition to Luke, were Boise AGS, Idaho, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M, and Tucson Air Guard Station, Ariz. Eglin was also a candidate for additional training jets. The current scope of this basing action includes 250 to 300 F-35 aircraft. (Source: DoD, 07/29/10)