F-35 comment period ends

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The time for residents to comments on a proposal to allow more F-35 jets to fly over Valparaiso ended Monday. The Northwest Florida Daily News reports that nearly 70 people, most from Valparaiso or nearby, lodged comments, according to a preliminary analysis provided by Mike Spaits, environmental spokesman for Eglin Air Force Base. About 20 percent favored lifting restrictions on the runway that would send F-35 traffic over Valparaiso. The main concerns of those opposed to the plan are noise and impacts to property values, Spaits said. A final report is expected to be released to the public this fall. The 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin now hosts 30 of the military’s newest fighter jets. Eglin is home of the integrated training center for all F-35 training. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 07/30/13)