From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
MONTGOMERY — The Air Force has selected the 187th Fighter Wing at Dannelly Field Air National Guard Base in Montgomery as one of the next bed down locations for the F-35A Lightning II aircraft.
Gov. Kay Ivey, Maj. Gen. Sheryl Gordon, adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard, and Brig. Gen. Randy Efferson, Alabama Air National Guard chief of staff, joined other local leaders to make the announcement at Dannelly Field Thursday.
Pending a successful Environmental Impact Study, the F-35As are expected to begin arriving at Dannelly Field in approximately 2023.
According to the Montgomery Advertiser, the selection not only protects 1,400 jobs, but adds 1,000 new jobs and a $70 million initial investment with capitol investment rising to over $1 billion.
Mayor Todd Strange said there will also be a ripple effect and the local economic impact will surpass the Hyundai assembly plant.
The decision to select the 187th came after site surveys of five candidate Air National Guard bases. Each location was assessed for operational requirements, potential impacts to existing missions, infrastructure and manpower, and cost estimates.
The basing of the fifth-generation aircraft in Alabama will ensure that the Alabama Air National Guard will continue its history of excellence and providing air power to combatant commanders far into the foreseeable future. We look forward to continuing the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen “Red Tails” and serving this great state and nation with pride and professionalism.
8 Comments
John Patterson
I expect this and those mysterious booms we’ve had recently are connected.
Emmett Haislip
I guess the people in Florida won. They’ve been fighting to stop it because of the noise.
Zac McIntyre
Those jets are not even here yet.
Scott Buttram
1,000 new jobs and a $1 billion investment. Florida fought their tails off to try and land this facility.
https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/811a.pdf
Justin Wood
Old Man Patterson don’t know his ass from a hole in the ground!
Scott Buttram
And…
http://jacksonville.com/news/military/2017-08-29/us-sen-bill-nelson-shows-support-bringing-f-35-squadron-jacksonville#.Wab77geqe9Q.twitter
Amy Richardson Langner
How awesome!
Amy Richardson Langner
I have a home right across from the Pensacola Naval Station~ (Home of the BLUE ANGELS) ~and we NEVER get tired of the “SOUND OF FREEDOM” ~ Love every minute of it!!~~ Go Montgomery!!!~~ Whoop Whoop!