Wisconsin Guard Wing Accepts First 3 F-35s
A second Air Nationwide Guard unit has its first F-35s, as three of the fifth-generation fighters arrived at Truax Discipline, Wisc., on April 25.
The Wisconsin Air Nationwide Guard’s one hundred and fifteenth Fighter Wing has been working towards the F-35 for years now—Truax Discipline was chosen as one in every of two most well-liked areas for the fighter again in 2017, and an official basing determination got here three years later in April 2020. The wing’s ultimate F-16 left the bottom in October 2022.
“It’s with nice pleasure and obligation that we settle for this problem at present of turning into the second Air Nationwide Guard fighter wing with the F-35,” Col. Bart Van Roo, the wing commander, stated at a ceremony celebrating the F-35s’ arrival. “As we tackle this new problem, with a lot nationwide and worldwide significance, we sit up for working with you all to proceed to maximise what we deliver to our communities for many years to come back.”
Finally, the one hundred and fifteenth Fighter Wing will get 18 F-35As, three fewer than its 21 F-16s.
The Vermont Air Nationwide Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing was the primary Guard unit to obtain the F-35 again in September 2019.
It gained’t take one other three years for an additional ANG unit to get the plane—Alabama’s 187th Fighter Wing is scheduled to start out receiving F-35s in December. The truth is, only a few days earlier than the Wisconsin ANG welcomed its new planes, the Alabama Guard stated farewell to the final of its F-16s in a ceremony at Dannelly Discipline.
“On this bittersweet and thrilling day, we’re right here gathered collectively as a household once more, for at present is a household reunion,” Col. Brian Vaughn, 158th Fighter Wing commander, stated on the April 21 ceremony. “And whereas we’re right here to honor this stunning airplane, that we’ve had for 35 years, that I’ve had the privilege of flying for 25 years, whereas we love that machine, that’s what it’s. It’s a machine. It’s a bit of apparatus.”
Nonetheless extra Guard models will observe—Jacksonville Air Nationwide Guard Base, Fla., was chosen to get the F-35 in 2020 and fighters are slated to be delivered in 2024. Barnes Air Nationwide Guard Base, Mass., was additionally chosen as a most well-liked location for an F-35A squadron this month.
On the Lively-Obligation aspect, Tyndall Air Power Base, Fla., is slated to start out receiving F-35s in September 2023.
F-35 deliveries from producer Lockheed Martin resumed in March after a three-month pause within the wake of a Dec. 14, 2022 F-35B crash and a subsequent investigation into “harmonic resonance” points with the fighter’s F135 engine.
