Jax being considered as home for Air Force's newest jets

[stjr]

Jacksonville being considered as home for Air Force's newest jets

    * By Timothy J. Gibbons
    * Story updated at 7:22 PM on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009

The Air Force is considering putting some of its newest jets in Jacksonville, the Pentagon said Thursday, although a final decision will not be made for about a year.

The Florida National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing based near Jacksonville International Airport could get 18 of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, a next-generation fighter jet. The new aircraft would replace the F-15 Eagles the airmen at the base now fly.

“The announcement today by the Air Force chief of staff that Jacksonville’s 125th Fighter Wing is a potential bed-down location for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is indeed good news,” Maj. Gen Douglas Burnett, the adjutant general of the Florida Guard, said after the announcement Thursday. “It’s good for our city â€" it will add more jobs and will solidify the mission of our fighter wing well into the future.”

Bases in Vermont, Utah, Idaho and South Carolina also are possible operational sites, the Air Force said.

The statement from the Air Force also lists Eglin Air Force Base as one of five possible training sites. However, earlier Eglin was confirmed as a training facility for all Joint Strike Fighter pilots and is set to receive at least 59 aircraft, despite being sued by residents over noise and other concerns.

The Jacksonville base was one of the more than 200 reviewed, according to U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fla., who said the decision was made based on available airspace, airport operations and the surrounding community.

“We have the military assets, we have qualified people, and a supportive community that welcomes the military investment,” he said in a statement. “This is a promising and positive development for Jacksonville.

The Air Force is expected to announce in late 2010 which bases it prefers, following an environmental impact analysis similar to that which was done by the Navy looking at what ships to base at Mayport Naval Station.

A final decision will follow in early 2011.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-10-29/story/jacksonville_being_considered_as_home_for_air_forces_newest_jets

[Sportmotor]

I thought the newest jets where the F-22s

[buckethead]

I thought the newest jets where the F-22s

Me too. Looks like someones been busy developing new technology.

[Overstreet]

F-22 Raptor and the F-35 joint strike fighter were developed together. The F-22 was primarily a air superiority fighter with ground attack capability similar to the F-15 mission. The F-35 is primarily an attack aircraft replacing the F-18, AV8, and F-16. Both are real expensive.

Last June/July 09 the congress passed and Obama signed a budget bill  for 2010 that did not contain the F-22. It affectively cancelled the F-22s.

The real news item here is that they are assigning a front line new generation aircraft to the reserve component. Not long ago that would not have happened.

[north miami]

Could or possibly should Cecil play a regenerated role?? Seems like a lot of forehead scratching since the closure.......

[thelakelander]

No Jax does not want the military to come back to Cecil.  The community would like to see the old base develop into a warehousing hub surrounded by tract housing.

[Ocklawaha]

This is just a small squadron headed to JIA's AFNG base, which is on the flip side of the airport from the terminal. They once had the F-104 interceptors which were cool because we built JIA with short runways (original) and they had to land with parachutes deployed to stop! They once had an observation deck on top of the terminal so people could go upstairs and watch... Oh the good ol days.


Lee Field still looks pretty damn sweet.

Somebody PLEASE TELL THE USAF AND USN THAT NAS LEE FIELD STILL SITS M/L EMPTY! Bring em back to Green Cove Springs!

OCKLAWAHA

[urbanlibertarian]

BTW it's Florida Air National Guard (FANG).  I worked on the F-106 Delta Dart while I was a member in the late '70s.

[blizz01]

Jax does not want the military to come back to Cecil.

Keep me honest, though - the Coast Guard & Army National Guard keep Helicopter squadrons there - right?  I know that I've seen P-3s & AWACs rising up from that area too.

[JaxBorn1962]

Could or possibly should Cecil play a regenerated role?? Seems like a lot of forehead scratching since the closure.......

NO Cecil Field will be better off Never to become a full time jet base to the Air Force, Navy, etc etc etc

[Ocklawaha]

They're not talking about a whole damn base here... Looks like a simple squadron move. IF they still want to come this way, there are other fields that could be reactivated, extended, created. As I said, IMO, Green Cove Springs, Lee Field, is perfect. The river is wide and almost all approaches to Lee Field, are over water or miles of pine trees. White House has one LONG runway.

Otherwise, Lake City has a former training base used for heavy transport of the Florida National Guard. Camp Blanding has an old airport on the South border that would take a complete remake, but it once was a base. Lake Butler, was another airbase, as were Deland, Daytona, Ormond, Spruce Creek, Palatka, Sanford. Sanford and Green Cove being among the last to close.  Also lots of land and space at Moody AFB (Valdosta), and Kings Bay NS. (St. Marys).

OCKLAWAHA

[JaxBorn1962]

They're not talking about a whole damn base here... Looks like a simple squadron move. IF they still want to come this way, there are other fields that could be reactivated, extended, created. As I said, IMO, Green Cove Springs, Lee Field, is perfect. The river is wide and almost all approaches to Lee Field, are over water or miles of pine trees. White House has one LONG runway.

Otherwise, Lake City has a former training base used for heavy transport of the Florida National Guard. Camp Blanding has an old airport on the South border that would take a complete remake, but it once was a base. Lake Butler, was another airbase, as were Deland, Daytona, Ormond, Spruce Creek, Palatka, Sanford. Sanford and Green Cove being among the last to close.  Also lots of land and space at Moody AFB (Valdosta), and Kings Bay NS. (St. Marys).

OCKLAWAHA

Why do we feel we have to Beat are Chest Everytime some one feels the only way to make money and get Jobs we need the Military to come back. I say NO!

[BridgeTroll]

http://I've seen P-3s & AWACs rising up from that area too.

P-3s from NAS jax use Cecil for "touch and go" practice.  There is a contigent of DEA P-3s that fly out of Cecil along with the AWACS type P-3s.

[buckethead]

They're not talking about a whole damn base here... Looks like a simple squadron move. IF they still want to come this way, there are other fields that could be reactivated, extended, created. As I said, IMO, Green Cove Springs, Lee Field, is perfect. The river is wide and almost all approaches to Lee Field, are over water or miles of pine trees. White House has one LONG runway.

Otherwise, Lake City has a former training base used for heavy transport of the Florida National Guard. Camp Blanding has an old airport on the South border that would take a complete remake, but it once was a base. Lake Butler, was another airbase, as were Deland, Daytona, Ormond, Spruce Creek, Palatka, Sanford. Sanford and Green Cove being among the last to close.  Also lots of land and space at Moody AFB (Valdosta), and Kings Bay NS. (St. Marys).

OCKLAWAHA

Why do we feel we have to Beat are Chest Everytime some one feels the only way to make money and get Jobs we need the Military to come back. I say NO!

I disgree with most of the above post. Chest beating was not visible on my monitor.

I haven't read any suggestions that the only way to make money and get jobs was to have a military presence.

I say yes.

Heck! I guess I disagree with the entire post... respectfully.

[thelakelander]

Why do we feel we have to Beat are Chest Everytime some one feels the only way to make money and get Jobs we need the Military to come back. I say NO!

What's wrong with the military?  It is still the back bone of Jax's economy.  That's not to say we should not go after other industries, but it does not do Jax any good to turn our back on them either.