100th F-35 in final production

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The 100th F-35, the first aircraft destined for Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, Ariz., entered the last stage of final assembly. The conventional takeoff and landing aircraft, AF-41, will arrive at the base next year. In June, the Air Force announced an increase in the number of squadrons at Luke to six with 144 aircraft, which will make it the largest F-35 base in the world. Luke will also serve as an F-35A International Training site. (Source: Lockheed Martin, 07/25/13) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., which has 28 F-35s, is the training center for all variants of the F-35 and all the services as well as international partners.