Forum: F-35 Units

Did I hear right, during one of the Brac hearings, all F-35 training for AF,Navy and Marines is going to be at Eglin? Wonder what will happen to Luke and DM in the next Brac, 20??

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Roger that Vinnie. Eglin will be home to the Joint F-35 B Course. The one thing that makes sense about it is that Raptor training is about an hour down the road, but roughly a 15 min. flight.

Not sure what this means for Luke or DM. I don't honestly see DM going anywhere, since it is the home of AMARC. They'll also remain home of A-10C training.

As for Luke? Hmmm...hard to say. Phoenix is growing at a rapid rate, and they've already had encroachment issues. F-16 ops will continue for several years after the -35 becomes operational. Luke also controlls the Barry M. Goldwater Range.

Both bases also have a staunch ally in Sen. John McCain. If he should become Pres. in 2008, they will have an even BIGGER ally. Williams got BRAC'd before he became a powerful senator.

I know losing JSF training was a big shock for the folks at Luke though. That could have bought the base another 40+ years.

Then again, Mickey D used to have the F-16 B course, and lost it, so you never know.

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

Forum Veteran Joined: Dec 25, 2003 - 10:03 PM Posts: 679

Interesting, what happens to a training base after the jet they teach about goes the way of the buffalo. Will it become a KC-135 base? LOL

They still have an AD squadron at Luke, perhaps it will become a 35 squadron.... With Goldwater right there I can't see the air force giving up Luke.

Forum Veteran Joined: Dec 25, 2003 - 10:03 PM Posts: 679

Even tho I was at Luke for a month, I thought none of the squadrons deployed. I know the 63rd went TDY to Tyndall while I was there.

Luke is an Allergic Excessively To Combat, er, AETC base. No, they don't deploy, at least not as a unit into combat anyway. They do send folks to play in the sand, but no unit-wide deployments.

Swanee, the 56th FW is an active duty wing...you meant Operational, right? Just like Tyndall, however, they are an active unit conducting a training mission.

To answer your question Shiz...several things can happen.

Shaw did training for the RF-4C. It's still open as an operational Viper unit.

Castle did training for the BUFF. It is closed.

MacDill lost Viper training, and nearly closed. It IS a 135 base now! Laughing

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

Forum: F-35 Units

Eglin to become JSF training base for all services?