Tyndall repair to take 3-5 years

The Air Force expects it will take three to five years to repair damage to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., caused by Hurricane Michael. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said at the Nov. 15 Defense One Summit in Washington, D.C., that the October hurricane damaged 95 percent of the base's buildings. Missions will return to the base over the next three months, including the Air Operations Center. Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., some 60 miles west of Tyndall, has taken Tyndall's F-22 flying training unit including T-38 trainers. The Raptor schoolhouse for pilots in training has also be moved to Eglin. All the F-22 Raptors that were left behind during the storm have moved on to the bases where they will be housed until their future destination is determined, Wilson said. The Air Force in recent weeks said it would relocate its Tyndall F-22 fleet to Joint Base Langley-Eustice, Va, Joint Base Elmendorf-Ricardson, Alaska, and Joint Base Pear Harbor-Hickham, Hawaii. (Sources: Inside Defense, Military.com, 11/15/18)