Italy-built F-35 rollout in March

Italy is preparing for the rollout of its first F-35A from the final assembly and checkout facility at Cameri Air Base in northern Italy. The first aircraft is scheduled to come off the line by March 2015. Italy invested about $1 billion in building the facility, which began operations last year. The original plan called for about 250 planes, 113 for Italy and 85 for the Netherlands, to be built at the plant. But the final number is up in the air. The facility, however, has been built with expansion in mind. Cameri is also the site of Italy’s hub for Eurofighter Typhoon and Tornado work. (Source: Aviation Week, 12/10/14) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.